Legal aid in England five times as generous as rest of Europe – Daily Telegraph
“Legal aid in England and Wales is five times as generous as the average in Europe, figures show.”
Daily Telegraph, 20th September 2012
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Category: legal aid
Sir Bill Callaghan: ‘Rumours of legal aid’s death much exaggerated’ –
” ‘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.”
LegalVoice, 13th September 2012
Source: www.legalvoice.org.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.”
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
“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.”
The Guardian, 5th September 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Welfare Benefits: in scope or not? – LegalVoice
“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.”
LegalVoice, 3rd August 2012
Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk
LSC to face judicial review over report costs – Law Society’s Gazette
“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.”
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
“The Legal Services Commission (LSC) are developing a new online system (the Client and Cost Management System – CCMS).”
The Bar Council, 27th July 2012
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
Solicitors, law centres need YOU (or at least your cash) – The Guardian
“If the government won’t take responsibility for access to justice, it’s time for the legal profession to step up.”
The Guardian, 10th July 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
High court slams means-test delays – Law Society’s Gazette
“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.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 3rd July 2012
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Rethinking access to justice – LegalVoice
“‘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).”
LegalVoice, 22nd June 2012
Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk
Cost disputes set to soar post-Jackson, survey predicts – Law Society’s Gazette
“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.”
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
“Proportionate costs – Fifteenth lecture in implementation programme – 29 May 2012”
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.”
The Guardian, 22nd May 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Jackson – The New Bills – Thirty Nine Essex Street
“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
Legal aid bill is law – the fight back starts now – The Guardian
“Now the legal aid bill is law, how do we preserve access to justice?”
The Guardian, 3rd May 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
