Sir Bill Callaghan: ‘Rumours of legal aid’s death much exaggerated’ –

Posted September 14th, 2012 in budgets, legal aid, news by tracey

” ‘There is still a lot of money going into legal aid,’ insisted Sir Bill Callaghan, the chair of the Legal Services Commission yesterday at the international research conference held by the Legal Services Research Centre.”

Full story

LegalVoice, 13th September 2012

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

Late LSC fees ‘drive barristers out of practice’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 13th, 2012 in barristers, fees, legal aid, news by tracey

“Late payment of fees by the Legal Services Commission (LSC) is driving barristers out of private practice, it has been alleged.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 13th September 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

LSB publishes a discussion paper which sets out a range of indicators that aim to baseline access to justice and monitor how it changes over time – Legal Services Board

“LSB publishes a discussion paper which sets out a range of indicators that aim to baseline access to justice and monitor how it changes over time.”

Full press release

Legal Services Board, 12th September 2012

Source: www.www.legalservicesboard.org.uk

Cameron reshuffle brings critic of legal aid cuts into ministry of justice – The Guardian

Posted September 6th, 2012 in legal aid, ministers' powers and duties, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

“One of the new ministerial appointees to the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has previously been highly critical of the government’s key policy decision to axe £350m from the civil legal aid budget.”

Full story

The Guardian, 5th September 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Welfare Benefits: in scope or not? – LegalVoice

Posted August 6th, 2012 in benefits, fees, legal aid, news by sally

“The Legal Services Commission’s contract managers have been conducting informal assessments of files and I have been receiving a number of queries from not-for-profit (NfP) agencies because cases advising on entitlement to benefits appear to be disallowed on a fairly regular basis, writes Vicky Ling. It is clear that the goalposts have moved since the introduction of fixed fees in 2007, and cases that would previously passed audit are now been nil assessed.”

Full story

LegalVoice, 3rd August 2012

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

LSC to face judicial review over report costs – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted August 2nd, 2012 in costs, expert witnesses, judicial review, legal aid, legal services, news by sally

“The Law Society is to challenge by judicial review a Legal Services Commission decision to meet just one-third of the costs of an expert witness report ordered by a county court on behalf of a child.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 2nd August 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Preparing for the on-line processing of family and civil legal aid claims: action required from all chambers that undertake legal aid work – The Bar Council

Posted July 30th, 2012 in internet, legal aid, news, pilot schemes by sally

“The Legal Services Commission (LSC) are developing a new online system (the Client and Cost Management System – CCMS).”

Full story

The Bar Council, 27th July 2012

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

“It’s make or break for the criminal bar”: interview with John Cooper QC – Head of Legal

Posted July 12th, 2012 in barristers, legal aid, podcasts, quality assurance by sally

“I spoke to John Cooper QC today at his chambers to ask him why he’s standing for Vice-Chair of the Criminal Bar Association, and why in his manifesto he raises the prospect of potential industrial action by barristers in response to government policies on criminal legal aid.”

Podcast

Head of Legal, 11th July 2012

Source: www.headoflegal.com

Solicitors, law centres need YOU (or at least your cash) – The Guardian

Posted July 11th, 2012 in legal aid, legal services, news by tracey

“If the government won’t take responsibility for access to justice, it’s time for the legal profession to step up.”

Full story

The Guardian, 10th July 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

High court slams means-test delays – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 4th, 2012 in costs, courts, delay, legal aid, news, time limits by sally

“The High Court has condemned the current system of means testing in magistrates’ court and called on the Ministry of Justice to take urgent action to cut ‘unacceptable’ delays.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 3rd July 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Rethinking access to justice – LegalVoice

Posted June 25th, 2012 in budgets, legal aid, news by sally

“‘City’s aid sought for post-LASPO project,’ announced the Law Society earlier this month. Apparently, Chancery Lane is seeking the backing of City firms for (in its words) ‘a high-profile initiative aimed at helping high street practices and their clients meet the challenges posed by legal aid cuts’. The Society’s vice-president Lucy Scott-Moncrieff discusses the group’s response to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act (LASPO).”

Full story

LegalVoice, 22nd June 2012

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

Cost disputes set to soar post-Jackson, survey predicts – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 25th, 2012 in costs, legal aid, legal representation, news by sally

“Costs disputes between solicitors and their clients will become more common once the Jackson reforms are implemented, according to a survey of specialist costs lawyers published today.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 25th June 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

LSB report on consumer needs from legal information sources – Legal Services Board

“LSB publishes report which explores the types of information consumers need to help them address legal issues they face.”

Understanding consumer needs from legal information sources: final report (PDF)

Legal Services Board, 6th June 2012

Source: www.legalservicesboard.org.uk

Proportionate Costs – Speech by Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury, Master of the Rolls

Posted May 30th, 2012 in costs, legal aid, speeches by tracey

“Proportionate costs – Fifteenth lecture in implementation programme – 29 May 2012”

Full speech

Judiciary of England and Wales, 29th May 2012

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Two Articles on Local Government Law – 11 KBW

Local Government Law Update: 21 May (PDF)
Local Government Law Update: 22 May (PDF)

11 KBW, May 2012

Source: www.11kbw.com

Legal aid cuts: if lawyers don’t defend justice for all, who will?

“A pillar of postwar society has been shattered by the legal aid cuts: that’s why a strike is now on the cards.”

Full story

The Guardian, 22nd May 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Jackson – The New Bills – Thirty Nine Essex Street

Posted May 21st, 2012 in bills, budgets, costs, legal aid, news by sally

“The Final Report of the Jackson Review made a number of recommendations which he wanted to be considered, and introduced, as a package. Today I shall be looking at some of the recommendations which have received the least publicity and which do not feature in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act (‘LASPO’), but will be of great interest to Costs Lawyers.”

Full story (PDF)

Thirty Nine Essex Street, May 2012

Source: www.39essex.com

Barristers may strike over legal aid reforms and fees – The Guardian

Posted May 18th, 2012 in barristers, budgets, fees, industrial action, legal aid, news by sally

“The head of the Criminal Bar Association is to raise the spectre of strike action by criminal barristers across England and Wales in protest at cuts in fees and legal aid reforms.”

Full story

The Guardian, 18th May 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Legal aid bill is law – the fight back starts now – The Guardian

Posted May 3rd, 2012 in law centres, legal aid, legislation, news, sentencing by sally

“Now the legal aid bill is law, how do we preserve access to justice?”

Full story

The Guardian, 3rd May 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 – legislation.gov.uk

Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 published

Full text of Act

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk