Category: legal representation

Rape victims shouldn’t have to pay for their own justice through the civil courts – The Independent

Posted January 20th, 2017 in civil justice, criminal injuries compensation, criminal justice, legal representation, news, rape, victims by sally

‘The jury in a criminal case must believe the accused is guilty ‘beyond reasonable doubt’, meaning that a victim can be believed and yet a ‘not guilty’ verdict is still returned. This is part of the reason that many cases never reach trial: the police or CPS think the evidence may not fulfil the tough requirements of the criminal courts.’

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The Independent, 18th January 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Immigration tribunal President blasts legal representatives in sex grooming gang appeal – Free Movement

Posted January 13th, 2017 in case management, citizenship, legal representation, news, sexual grooming, tribunals by sally

‘President McCloskey has blasted the representatives for both claimants and the Home Office in his latest determination of Shabir Ahmed and others (sanctions for non – compliance) [2016] UKUT 00562 (IAC).’

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Free Movement, 13th January 2017

Source: www.freemovement.org.uk

Jailed marine Alexander Blackman’s defence team ‘fell below standard required’, official report concludes – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 4th, 2017 in armed forces, legal representation, miscarriage of justice, murder, news by sally

‘The legal team tasked with defending a Royal Marine accused of murdering a wounded Taliban fighter were responsible for a litany of failings that rendered his subsequent conviction unsafe, the body that investigates potential miscarriages of justice has found.’

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Daily Telegraph, 3rd January 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Domestic violence legal aid applications rise – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 19th, 2016 in domestic violence, legal aid, legal representation, news, statistics, time limits by sally

‘Relaxing time limits for reporting domestic violence may have contributed to the steep increase in legal aid applications from victims this year, latest government figures suggest.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 15th December 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Review urges higher fees and mandatory training to combat “poor-quality” advice in Youth Courts – Legal Futures

Posted December 14th, 2016 in fees, legal aid, legal education, legal representation, news, youth courts by sally

‘The status and quality of legal representation for children before the Youth Court need to be raised first by an increase in legal aid rates and then by mandatory training for all solicitors and barristers appearing for them, a government-commissioned review has recommended.’

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Legal Futures, 14th December 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

BSB welcomes Ministry of Justice review into youth justice – Bar Standards Board

Posted December 13th, 2016 in legal representation, news, reports, young offenders, youth courts by sally

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) welcomes the Ministry of Justice’s review into youth justice, led by Charlie Taylor.’

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Bar Standards Board, 12th December 2016

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Oversupply of law graduates and growing number of LiPs are solution to each other’s problem, says MR – Legal Futures

Posted December 12th, 2016 in legal aid, legal education, legal profession, legal representation, litigants in person, litigation friends, news, pro bono work by sally

‘The combination of an oversupply of law graduates shut out of the profession due to fewer training contracts or pupillages and the growing number of litigants in person (LiPs) offers an opportunity to enhance access to justice while helping students into practice, the Master of the Rolls has said.’

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Legal Futures, 7th December 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Children: Public Law Update (December 2016) – Family Law Week

Posted December 8th, 2016 in adoption, appeals, care orders, families, fostering, legal representation, news, witnesses by sally

‘John Tughan QC of 4 Paper Buildings reviews recent important judgments in the field of public children law.’

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Family Law Week, 7th December 2016

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Lecture by Sir Terence Etherton, MR: LawWorks Annual Pro Bono Awards lecture 2016 – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted December 7th, 2016 in civil justice, electronic filing, legal education, legal representation, litigants in person, litigation friends, speeches by sally

‘It is a real pleasure to have been asked to give this year’s LawWorks Annual Pro Bono Awards lecture. My subject is Access to Justice. I am not interested in it as a slogan. I am interested in it because access to justice lies at the heart of any society that aspires to call itself just, civilised, and committed to democracy and the rule of law.’

Full speech

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 7th December 2016

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Lord Pannick vs Jeremy Wright: Who are the top lawyers doing battle over Brexit? – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 6th, 2016 in attorney general, legal profession, legal representation, news, queen's counsel by sally

‘Lord Pannick QC, 52, is a veteran of hundreds of cases in the House of Lords, the UK Supreme Court and the Privy Council.’

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Daily Telegraph, 2nd December 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

The Duty the Police Owe to the Police – Zenith PI Blog

Posted December 6th, 2016 in appeals, duty of care, legal representation, London, news, police, striking out by sally

‘The case concerns an appeal against the Order of Mr Justice Jay in which he struck out claims brought by a number of serving officers of the Metropolitan Police against their Commissioner.’

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Zenith PI Blog, 5th December 2016

Source: www.zenithpi.wordpress.com

Claimants with minor injuries “don’t need lawyers”, says government – Legal Futures

Posted November 18th, 2016 in accidents, consultations, legal representation, news, personal injuries, road traffic, small claims by sally

‘Low-value road traffic accident claims “are not so complex that claimants routinely require legal representation to pursue them”, the government has argued – and suggested that claims management companies and paid McKenzie Friends could help instead.’

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Legal Futures, 17th November 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

16-year-old’s representation plight highlights pro bono dependency – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 8th, 2016 in appeals, care orders, children, legal representation, news, pro bono work by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has allowed a 16-year-old involved in care proceedings to instruct her own solicitor in a case highlighting the extent to which pro bono solicitors are now needed to resolve representation challenges.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 7th November 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Hillsborough inquests: Families’ legal fees were £63.6m – BBC News

Posted November 3rd, 2016 in costs, families, health & safety, inquests, legal aid, legal representation, news, police, sport by sally

‘Legal costs for the families at the inquests into the deaths of the 96 Hillsborough victims totalled £63.6m.’

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BBC News, 2nd November 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Legal aid cuts creating two-tier justice system, says Amnesty – The Guardian

Posted October 11th, 2016 in children, civil justice, legal aid, legal representation, news, reports by sally

‘Cuts to legal aid are far worse than anticipated and are creating a “two-tier” system which denies the poorest people access to justice, warns a critical report by Amnesty International.’

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The Guardian, 11th October 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

One-third of family court cases have no representative at all – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 30th, 2016 in family courts, legal aid, legal representation, news by sally

‘More than a third of cases in the family court have no legal representative for either party, new statistics show.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 29th September 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Legal representation in care proceedings under review – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 7th, 2016 in care orders, children, family courts, legal representation, news by sally

‘A government review into representation of children in public law cases could lead to lawyers being removed at certain stages in proceedings.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 5th September 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Modern divorce: the new rules of splitting up – The Guardian

Posted August 24th, 2016 in budgets, dispute resolution, divorce, legal aid, legal representation, married persons, news, statistics by sally

‘The end of the summer holidays is a peak period for breakups. But now couples are looking for fast and amicable ways to avoid being mired in the blame game, will the law finally catch up?’

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The Guardian, 23rd August 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The Serious Fraud Office and Legal Representation During Section 2 Interviews – Crimeline

Posted August 18th, 2016 in legal representation, news, Serious Fraud Office by sally

‘It is often assumed that an individual being interviewed by an investigative body, whether under caution or voluntarily, has a fundamental right to legal representation and advice. However, the publication of new guidelines by the Serious Fraud Office (“SFO”) on the presence of lawyers and the conduct of interviews conducted pursuant to section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act 1987 (the “New Guidelines”) calls into question this assumption. This article will consider the New Guidelines which were issued following the case of Lord v the SFO[1].’

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Crimeline, 15th August 2016

Source: www.crimeline.info

Hundreds of compensation claims against British soldiers could be abandoned after controversial law firm announces closure – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 15th, 2016 in armed forces, budgets, compensation, human rights, inquiries, Iraq, law firms, legal aid, legal representation, murder, negligence, news, solicitors, statistics, torture, unlawful killing, war, war crimes by sally

‘Hundreds of compensation claims against British soldiers are likely to be abandoned after a controversial law firm accused of “hounding” troops announced that it is closing.’

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Daily Telegraph, 15th August 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk