Public confidence in justice system at risk due to delayed reforms, MPs warn – The Independent

Posted June 30th, 2023 in budgets, civil justice, courts, criminal justice, delay, HM Courts Service, news, victims by tracey

‘Public confidence in the justice system is at risk of being undermined by the courts and tribunals service amid delays to key reforms, MPs have warned in a scathing report.’

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The Independent, 30th June 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Costs of case manager meetings cannot be claimed, master rules – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 26th, 2023 in budgets, case management, costs, dispute resolution, news, personal injuries by tracey

‘A High Court judge has ruled that charges for meetings with case managers are not claimable because they do not progress the court case.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 23rd June 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Society secures JR permission over criminal legal aid fees – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Law Society has been granted permission to take the government to court over its decision not to raise criminal legal aid fees by the minimum 15% recommended by the Bellamy review.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 22nd June 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Claimant win High Court battle over social and life skills activities and disability related expenditure – Local Government Lawyer

Posted June 22nd, 2023 in autism, budgets, disabled persons, local government, news by tracey

‘The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead has lost a High Court case over whether a 25-year-old man with autism can count his social and life skills activities as disability related expenditure (DRE).’

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Local Government Lawyer, 22nd June 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

No such thing as a s114 notice – Local Government Lawyer

Posted June 16th, 2023 in budgets, local government, news, notification by tracey

‘Reports of “s144 notices” being issued at local authorities are becoming increasingly common. But what are they and what should the monitoring officer do if a s114 report is being made at their authority? Paul Turner explains.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 16th June 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Role of Lord Chancellor “at risk of being downgraded” – Legal Futures

Posted June 15th, 2023 in budgets, courts, delay, lord chancellor, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

‘The role of Lord Chancellor is “at risk of being downgraded” because the operation of the courts is now “only a very small part” of what the office-holder does, the Lord Chief Justice (LCJ) has warned.’

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Legal Futures, 15th June 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Ministers face legal challenge over cuts to walking and cycling investment in England – The Guardian

‘The government faces a legal challenge to its decision to cut investment in walking and cycling in England, over claims that the move bypassed legal processes and risks scuppering commitments over the climate emergency and air pollution.’

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The Guardian, 5th June 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Top judge asks: Why don’t litigators know how much a case will cost? – Legal Futures

Posted April 18th, 2023 in budgets, costs, judges, news by sally

‘Litigators should know how much any case is going to cost before they even begin the process of budgeting, Sir Colin Birss, the deputy head of civil justice, has argued.’

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Legal Futures, 18th April 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Councils call for funding, guidance and notice ahead of introduction of Martyn’s Law – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Local Government Association (LGA) has said the Government must ensure funding is made available for the successful implementation of a new law which requires venues to take steps to protect the public from terror attacks.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 20th December 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Barristers set to pay the price for BSB performance problems – Legal Futures

Posted December 15th, 2022 in barristers, budgets, fees, news, recruitment, remuneration by tracey

‘The poor performance of the Bar Standards Board (BSB) is set to hit barristers in the pocket as it seeks to increase salaries to overcome recruitment and retention difficulties.’

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Legal Futures, 15th December 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Access denied: The state of the justice system in England and Wales in 2022 – The Bar Council

Posted November 28th, 2022 in barristers, budgets, civil justice, criminal justice, legal aid, Ministry of Justice, news by tracey

‘Access denied: The state of the justice system in England and Wales in 2022.’

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The Bar Council, 25th November 2022

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

More cash for solicitors? Not the right thing to do – Raab – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Lord chancellor Dominic Raab has signalled that he will not be announcing extra cash for solicitors when the government’s response to the Bellamy legal aid review is published next week.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 23rd November 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Almost 75,000 defendants awaiting crown court trial, says head of CPS – The Guardian

‘The head of the Crown Prosecution Service has warned that cutting its budget would have a “catastrophic” impact on the backlog in the crown courts, as he revealed that almost 75,000 defendants were awaiting trial at the end of last month.’

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The Guardian, 1st November 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Research briefing: Health and Social Care Levy (Repeal) Bill 2022-23 – House of Commons Library

Posted October 7th, 2022 in bills, budgets, health, national insurance, news, parliament, social services by tracey

‘The Health and Social Care Levy (Repeal) Bill 2022-23 [Bill 155 of 2022-23] was introduced on 22 September 2022.’

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House of Commons Library , 6th October 2022

Source: commonslibrary.parliament.uk

Victims’ Bill will have ‘limited effect’ without proper funding – report – The Independent

Posted September 30th, 2022 in bills, budgets, criminal justice, government departments, immigration, news, victims by michael

‘The Government’s plans for a Victims’ Bill will have a “limited effect” unless more funding is provided, according to MPs.’

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The Independent, 30th September 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Barristers accuse ministers of rushing release of pre-recorded video evidence – The Guardian

‘Barristers have accused ministers of ignoring a crisis in the criminal justice system by continuing to roll out pre-recorded video evidence for rape survivors in England and Wales amid a strike by advocates. The policy, allowing complainants of offences including modern slavery to be cross-examined before trial in front of a limited number of people, was extended to five more crown courts on Friday, taking the total to 63. Three-quarters of courts are covered and all will be by the end of the month.’

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The Guardian, 9th September 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Dad tells of teen daughter’s long wait for rape trial – BBC News

‘The father of a 15-year-old girl, who has been waiting two years for her rape trial, has told the BBC about the devastating impact of court delays.’

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BBC News, 31st August 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

It tears barristers like me apart to strike, but the government has left us no choice Simon Spence – The Guardian

“The walkout in England and Wales is not merely about pay: it is about a criminal justice system that has been left to crumble.”

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The Guardian, 22nd August 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

England and Wales police failing burglary victims, inspectorate finds – The Guardian

Posted August 11th, 2022 in budgets, burglary, news, police, robbery, statistics, theft by sally

‘Police are failing victims of burglary and theft, missing chances to catch thieves leading to lack of confidence in forces, the official inspectorate has found.’

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The Guardian, 11th August 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Criminal courts face further disruption as barristers strike for fourth week – The Independent

‘Barristers have walked out for a fourth week as industrial action continues at courts around the country.’

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The Independent, 18th July 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk