Jump in unrepresented defendants as legal aid cuts continue to bite – The Guardian

‘The number of unrepresented defendants in crown courts is rising sharply, the head of the Criminal Bar Association has warned, as cuts to legal aid increasingly affect the criminal justice system.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 24th November 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Good practice for lawyers towards litigants in person – Family Law

‘Despite there being a variety of reasons why someone may choose to represent themselves in the family courts – this decision isn’t an anomaly. Now only 20% of family court cases have both parties represented. It’s a trend we’ve seen grow in recent years.’

Full Story

Family Law, 19th November 2019

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Commonwealth head warns of dangers of denying justice to all – The Guardian

‘Denying access to justice risks creating fresh conflicts at a time when the international rule of law is under threat, the Commonwealth secretary general has warned ahead of a meeting of the organisation’s law enforcement officers.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 5th November 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘One lawyer is enough’: family judge issues court guidance – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 14th, 2019 in family courts, legal representation, news, practice directions by tracey

‘Solicitors with cases being heard at Central Family Court have been told they do not always have to turn up with their barristers. The suggestion is one of 24 contained in wellbeing guidance issued this month by His Honour Judge Robin Tolson QC.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 11th October 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Law firm “positively invited” client to end retainer – Litigation Futures

Posted October 7th, 2019 in appeals, documents, law firms, legal representation, news by tracey

‘A law firm that gave a client seven days’ notice of its intention to end its retainer, but effectively forced the client to do it after a day, was the party responsible for the termination, the High Court has ruled.’

Full Story

Litigation Futures, 7th October 2019

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

‘I struggled to do my mum justice at her inquest’ – BBC News

‘Every year, mental health trusts spend millions of pounds employing lawyers to represent them at inquests, where they could be found to be at fault. The relatives of those who have died, however, often get no legal aid and have to stand up and face those lawyers alone. Becky Montacute describes her bid to ensure that the lessons from her mother’s death were learned.’

Full Story

BBC News, 1st October 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Inquisitorial inquests and barrister-blaming – Counsel

‘Families have no automatic right to legal aid at inquests where the state may be implicated and legal aid is means tested. Thus at many such hearings, the family fends for itself while culpable public bodies are represented at taxpayers’ expense.’

Full Story

Counsel, September 2019

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Judge praises LiPs denied adjournment to find solicitors – Litigation Futures

Posted September 20th, 2019 in adjournment, legal representation, litigants in person, news, probate by sally

‘A deputy master hearing a probate dispute in the High Court said the way litigants in person ran their defence justified a decision not to adjourn the case so they could instruct new lawyers.’

Full Story

Litigation Futures, 20th September 2019

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Injunctions, evictions and unrepresented parties – Nearly Legal

Posted September 17th, 2019 in housing, injunctions, landlord & tenant, legal representation, news, repossession by tracey

‘Brown v Tyndale (2019) QBD (Robert Francis QC) 25/07/2019. The kind of thing that happens when neither party is represented…’

Full Story

Nearly Legal, 15th September 2019

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Legal charities urge government to delay whiplash reforms – Legal Futures

‘Four leading legal charities have urged the government to delay next year’s whiplash reforms over fears that litigants in person and the organisations supporting them will be overwhelmed by the new regime.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 13th August 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Improving Access to Justice: Community-based Solutions – Asian Journal of Legal Education

Posted August 5th, 2019 in equality, legal representation, legal services, pro bono work, reports by tracey

‘Inaccessibility to justice is a major issue internationally, and in some countries access to justice has decreased in recent years. For example, the growth of inequality and decline of state support have left access to justice in the UK and the US in a worst state in decades. There is therefore an urgent need to find solutions to protect peoples’ rights. This paper outlines key issues of access to justice, and identifies a number of solutions – from grass-root efforts to organizational changes. The paper highlights the importance of community-based solutions, such as mass pro bono contributions from individuals, law service providers and
other organizations.”

Full text

Asian Journal of Legal Education, May 2019

Source: https://research.gold.ac.uk/

UK’s top judge calls for donations to legal support charity – The Guardian

Posted July 29th, 2019 in budgets, charities, family courts, judges, legal aid, legal representation, news by sally

‘The UK’s most senior judge has appealed for people to give money to a charity whose volunteers support those who become embroiled in civil court cases but cannot afford a lawyer.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 28th July 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

First Bar Standards Board ABS closes down – Legal Futures

‘The first alternative business structure (ABS) licensed by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) – a combination of barristers and football agents – has shut down, Legal Futures can reveal.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 28th June 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Charity pours scorn on quality of immigration detainees’ advice – Legal Futures

‘Legal representation for immigration detainees is very poor, including the quality of advice given by solicitors, according to a charity that challenges detention in removal centres and prisons.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 4th June 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

When Parental Alienation Crosses into the Criminal Jurisdiction – Family Law Week

‘June Venters QC, of Venters Solicitors and Lamb Building, discusses the implications when issues of parental alienation arise in criminal proceedings.’

Full Story

Family Law Week, 23rd May 2019

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

UN highlights role of legal aid cuts in “immiseration” of millions – Legal Futures

‘The decimation of legal aid has contributed to “the systematic immiseration of millions across Great Britain”, the UN’s expert on poverty and human rights said yesterday.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 23rd May 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Voices of children overlooked in family courts, says ex-head – BBC News

‘Family courts in England and Wales are not properly accommodating children’s voices and needs because the government has suggested “it would all cost too much”, their former head has said.’

Full Story

BBC News, 16th May 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Court service starts another video hearing pilot running – Legal Futures

‘A pilot enabling domestic abuse victims to take part in hearings by video link from a computer in their solicitor’s office has begun running in Manchester.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 10th May 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Lady Hale at the Legal Action Group, London – Supreme Court

‘Legal Aid at 70.’

Full speech

Supreme Court, 5th April 2019

Source: www.supremecourt.uk

Spending on jail staff legal fees 46-times more than for bereaved – The Guardian

Posted April 11th, 2019 in bereavement, fees, inquests, legal aid, legal representation, news, prisons, statistics by sally

‘The Ministry of Justice spent £4.2m representing prison officers at inquests, while paying out only £92,000 in legal aid for bereaved families at hearings that examine deaths in prison, according to newly released figures.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 10th April 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com