Applications for Anti-Social Behaviour Injunctions and Gang-Related Violence Injunctions – Local Government Lawyer

‘Richard Dewsbery reports on an important recent change to the Civil Procedure Rules that affects the N16A application form.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 1st September 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Is it time to re-assess the cab rank rule? – Doughty Street Chambers

‘In March, 2023, many lawyers, including 18 barristers, signed a “declaration” that they will not prosecute climate-change activists or act for those promoting new fossil fuel projects. Is the ‘cab rank rule’ [Code rC28 -29] under threat?’

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Doughty Street Chambers, 20th July 2023

Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk

Judge was wrong to allow 14-year-old boy in care proceedings instruct own solicitor, Court of Appeal rules – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 1st, 2023 in care orders, children, family courts, legal representation, news by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has allowed a mother’s appeal against an order permitting a 14-year-old boy in care proceedings to instruct his own solicitor.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 31st July 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Judge wrong to let 14-year-old boy instruct solicitor – Legal Futures

Posted July 27th, 2023 in care orders, children, family courts, legal representation, news by sally

‘A family court judge was wrong to order that a 14-year-old boy be allowed to instruct his own solicitor in care proceedings, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, 27th July 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Boosted UK legal aid rates ‘not enough’ to deal with Rwanda asylum cases – The Guardian

‘The Law Society has warned that a proposed 15% increase in legal aid rates will not be enough to ensure that there are sufficient immigration lawyers to deal with the government’s controversial scheme to send asylum seekers to Rwanda.’

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The Guardian, 5th July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Bar chair calls for private prosecutions rethink after Post Office scandal – Legal Futures

‘It is time to look “very carefully” at whether those who “regarded themselves as victims” should be able to bring private prosecutions in the wake of the Post Office scandal, the chair of the Bar Council has said.’

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Legal Futures, 15th June 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Access to vital legal support extended to millions of vulnerable people – Ministry of Justice

‘Domestic abuse victims and children are among millions more people who will have access to legal aid under major government investment to support those who need it most.’

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Ministry of Justice, 25th May 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Post Office scandal highlights risk of lawyers “absorbing client’s view” – Legal Futures

Posted May 5th, 2023 in barristers, legal representation, legal services, news, postal service by tracey

‘The Post Office scandal highlights the dangers of lawyers absorbing and reflecting back their client’s view “without sufficient independence and critical detachment”, academics have argued.’

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Legal Futures, 5th May 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Family members taking on vulnerable children to receive better legal support – Ministry of Justice

‘Extended family members seeking to provide long-term, stable care for vulnerable children will be able to access free legal advice, thanks to new government investment announced today (30 April 2023).’

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Ministry of Justice, 1st May 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Legal aid widened but grandparents ‘will fall through justice gap’ – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The scope of legal aid has been widened to family and friends applying to look after a vulnerable child – however, the Law Society says the changes do not go far enough.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 2nd May 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Ethics and access: striking the right balance – Bar Standards Board

‘What is an ethical lawyer? Should an ethical lawyer steer clear of certain clients on public interest grounds? And should the regulator police the profession’s choice of client?’

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Bar Standards Board, 28th April 2023

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Firm ordered to pay ex-client £400k for negligent divorce advice – Legal Futures

‘A law firm that narrowed the scope of its retainer after a divorcing woman negotiated her own financial settlement was nonetheless negligent in failing to give her advice on the deal, the High Court has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, 24th April 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Law Society: Climate change a “valid” reason to reject clients – Legal Futures

‘Climate-related issues may be “valid considerations” for law firms in deciding whether to act for potential clients, the Law Society has said.’

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Legal Futures, 19th April 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Owen v Black Horse Limited [2023] EWCA Civ 325 – No Strike Out Despite the Claimant’s Absence at Trial – Pump Court Chambers

‘The Court of Appeal has interpreted the rules for non-attendance on the small claims track in a manner consistent with rule 39.3 in finding that an absent Claimant nevertheless “appeared” at his trial, through his legal representative.’

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Pump Court Chambers, 29th March 2023

Source: www.pumpcourtchambers.com

Judge excoriates “shameless” family case with costs of £5.5m – Legal Futures

‘A family court judge has described a case where the two parties racked up costs of £5.5m as “one of the most shameless pieces of litigation” he has ever seen.’

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Legal Futures, 20th March 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

High Court ruling expected to widen scope of legal aid for parents – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The High Court’s decision in a challenge brought by a domestic abuse complainant against the Ministry of Justice will widen the scope of legal aid for parents who share caring arrangements, a public law campaign group has said.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 9th March 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

UK mother unlawfully denied legal aid in case against abusive ex, court rules – The Guardian

‘A decision to deny a single mother legal aid to enforce a child custody agreement against her abusive ex-partner was unlawful, the high court has ruled.’

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The Guardian, 9th March 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Court of Appeal rejects claim by mother Family Court should not have made placement order after her lawyers withdrew at advanced stage – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Family Court did not act unfairly when a judge refused to adjourn an adoption case when the mother’s solicitors withdrew at a late stage, the Court of Appeal had decided.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 8th March 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Domestic abuse victims ‘still being cross-examined by alleged perpetrator’ – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Victims of domestic abuse are still being cross-examined by alleged perpetrators in the family courts despite the “appalling practice” being banned by the Domestic Abuse Act, women’s charities and solicitors have told the lord chancellor.

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Law Society's Gazette, 12th February 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

MoJ: Number of unrepresented claimants is not measure of OIC success – Legal Futures

‘The fact that fewer than 10% of claimants use the Official Injury Claim (OIC) portal without legal representation does not mean the system has failed to deliver, the government said yesterday.’

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Legal Futures, 30th November 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk