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

Ched Evans reaches settlement with lawyers over rape case – BBC News

Posted April 11th, 2019 in compensation, law firms, legal representation, news, rape, retrials by sally

‘Ched Evans has reached an out-of-court settlement with his original defence team over their handling of the case where he was found guilty of rape.’

Full Story

BBC News, 10th April 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Unrepresented PI litigants to receive “expert view” on claims – Legal Futures

‘Unrepresented personal injury (PI) claimants under the new whiplash regime will have paid-for access to an “independent view” of their claim, the Ministry of Justice has revealed.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 1st April 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Fury over MoJ ‘betrayal’ on legal aid at inquests – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Ministry of Justice has been accused of betraying those campaigning to ensure an equality of arms between bereaved families and the state at inquests.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 8th February 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Legal aid advice network ‘decimated’ by funding cuts – BBC News

Posted December 11th, 2018 in budgets, housing, legal aid, legal representation, litigants in person, news, statistics by sally

‘Cuts to legal aid have created “deserts” of provision across England and Wales, a BBC investigation found.’

Full Story

BBC News, 10th December 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Government-commissioned review recommends legal aid for bereaved families – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The government has announced that it will introduce a new mental health bill following today’s publication of the findings of an independent review into the Mental Health Act 1983. However it is silent on the review’s recommendation that bereaved families should receive non-means tested legal aid – despite already pledging to accept two other recommendations.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 6th December 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Divorce is not a “blank cheque” for litigation, judge warns – Legal Futures

Posted November 27th, 2018 in costs, divorce, financial provision, indemnities, legal representation, news by sally

‘Litigation is not a “blank cheque” and divorcing people cannot behave on the basis that they are bound to be reimbursed for their costs, a leading family law judge has warned.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 27th November 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Litigants in Person – an inherent problem with the justice system – Family Law Week

Posted November 21st, 2018 in budgets, legal aid, legal representation, litigants in person, news, statistics by sally

‘Matthew Richardson, barrister at Coram chambers considers the fundamental problem with re-shaping our justice system around a huge increase in litigants in person, caused by the removal of legal aid provision from most cases.’

Full Story

Family Law Week, 9th November 2018

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Bereaved family say they need £50,000 to pay for legal representation at inquest – The Guardian

Posted October 11th, 2018 in bereavement, costs, fees, inquests, legal representation, news by sally

‘The parents of a vulnerable student who took her own life at a university where there has been a series of deaths have spoken of the difficulty of ensuring there is a fair and transparent investigation because they are struggling to match the legal firepower of other parties involved.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 11th October 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Justice ‘only for the wealthy’: Law Society condemns legal aid cuts – The Guardian

Posted October 1st, 2018 in budgets, Law Society, legal aid, legal representation, news by sally

‘It is increasingly difficult for defendants and claimants to find solicitors prepared to represent them due to government legal aid cuts, the Law Society has warned.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 28th September 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Stephen Port victims’ families say legal funding unfair – BBC News

Posted September 5th, 2018 in families, inquests, legal aid, legal representation, news by sally

‘Families of the victims of serial killer Stephen Port say it is unfair that they have to pay for legal representation at inquests into their relatives’ deaths while the police can rely on public money for their costs.’

Full Story

BBC News, 5th September 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Court of Appeal: Judge wrong to jail unrepresented woman for contempt – Litigation Futures

Posted August 31st, 2018 in contempt of court, legal representation, news, sentencing by sally

‘A judge was wrong to jail an unrepresented woman for contempt of court without giving her more time to find a lawyer, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’

Full Story

Litigation Futures, 30th August 2018

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Leave.EU parts ways with Mishcon de Reya amid legal challenge – The Guardian

Posted August 7th, 2018 in elections, expenses, law firms, legal representation, news, referendums by sally

‘The elite London law firm Mishcon de Reya and Arron Banks’ pro-Brexit Leave.EU campaign have parted ways in the midst of Leave.EU’s legal challenge to a ruling it broke electoral law, the Guardian has learned.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 7th August 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Government seeks views on legal aid for inquests – Ministry of Justice

Posted July 19th, 2018 in consultations, inquests, legal aid, legal representation, press releases by sally

‘Justice Minister Lucy Frazer today announced the launch of a call for evidence to consider the need for legal representation during inquests.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 19th July 2018

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice