England and Wales court backlog crisis ‘to go on for several years’ – The Guardian

‘The backlog of cases in criminal courts in England and Wales is likely to be a pervasive issue for several years, severely affecting victims, witnesses and defendants, the National Audit Office has said.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 22nd October 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Long delay for hundreds of rape cases, says report – BBC News

‘The number of rape and sexual assault victims who have waited more than a year for their trial to go through the courts has soared, a report shows.’

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BBC News, 22nd October 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Constitutional amendment that moved council meetings to working hours criticised – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 14th, 2021 in budgets, local government, news by sally

‘A decision intended to move full council meetings at North Northamptonshire Council from 7pm to 2pm has been criticised as “anti-democratic” by detractors.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 13th October 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Law Society report hits out at “vanishing” civil legal aid – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 5th, 2021 in budgets, civil justice, legal advice, legal aid, news by sally

‘People living in areas without a major city are particularly badly hit by “vanishing” availability of civil legal aid across housing, welfare, education, community care and immigration, the Law Society has claimed.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 4th October 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Research: “Billions could be saved” by funding more legal advice – Legal Futures

Posted September 28th, 2021 in budgets, debts, health, housing, legal advice, news by sally

‘The Treasury could save billions of pounds a year if more public money is put into specialist legal advice, according to new research.’

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Legal Futures, 28th September 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Noisy neighbours spark 67% rise in police complaints – The Guardian

Posted September 20th, 2021 in budgets, complaints, coronavirus, local government, news, noise, police, statistics by tracey

‘Police forces across England faced a sharp increase in complaints about noisy neighbours during last year’s lockdown, with claims that years of cuts have left councils struggling to deal with antisocial behaviour.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 19th September 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Cost of practising as a solicitor set to fall by 6.7% – Legal Futures

‘The cost of practising as a solicitor is to fall by 6.7% in the coming year, although it may have to rise in future once the Law Society sets a new reserves policy.’

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Legal Futures, 20th August 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Supply and Appropriation (Main Estimates) Act 2021 – legislation.gov.uk

Posted July 23rd, 2021 in budgets, government departments, legislation by sally

Supply and Appropriation (Main Estimates) Act 2021

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Offering more law degrees “could save struggling universities” – Legal Futures

Posted July 23rd, 2021 in brexit, budgets, coronavirus, education, legal education, news, universities by sally

‘Universities should prioritise law degrees for investment because they produce “better employability outcomes”, are “comparatively cheap to deliver” and “well-suited to remote or blended learning”, a report has found.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 22nd July 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Justice system failing victims, says commissioner for England and Wales – The Guardian

Posted July 22nd, 2021 in budgets, criminal justice, delay, news, rape, victims by sally

‘Chronic underfunding of the criminal justice system has left victims facing a “bleak” picture, the victims’ commissioner for England and Wales has warned.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 21st July 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Charity launches legal challenge against UK’s foreign aid cuts – The Guardian

Posted July 19th, 2021 in budgets, charities, government departments, judicial review, news by michael

‘A charity has launched a legal challenge against Boris Johnson’s £4bn of cuts to the foreign aid budget which critics warn will cause significant suffering to some of the world’s poorest people.’

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The Guardian, 16th July 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Mothers lose landmark case against ‘desperately unfair’ two-child benefit limit – The Independent

Posted July 9th, 2021 in benefits, budgets, children, human rights, news, sex discrimination, Supreme Court, women by michael

‘Two campaigners have lost a challenge against the government’s “two-child limit” for welfare payments – an austerity measure brought in by former Tory chancellor George Osborne and one which critics have described as “desperately unfair”.’

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The Independent, 9th July 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Legal lifeline for people in need – Ministry of Justice

‘People who have fallen on hard times during the pandemic will be helped by extra funding for free legal advice, the government has announced.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 1st July 2021

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

Top judges doubt whether costs budgeting works, master reveals – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 1st, 2021 in asbestos, budgets, costs, industrial injuries, news by sally

‘A number of judges are sceptical about the wider merits of costs budgeting, a costs judge has claimed in a new judgment.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 29th June 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Nationalising probation service not enough to fix flaws, warns watchdog – The Guardian

‘Renationalising the management of offenders in the community will not be enough to put right the flaws of disastrous privatisation reforms introduced by the former Conservative minister Chris Grayling, the probation watchdog has warned.’

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The Guardian, 28th June 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Judge refuses plea from litigant in person for free hard copy bundle – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The High Court has ruled out giving a litigant in person a free hard copy of the bundle prepared for two forthcoming trials, with the judge noting that parties do not necessarily need to have equal resources.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 24th June 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Crown court backlog hits record high of 60,000 cases as victims wait years for justice – The Independent

‘The backlog of crown court cases in England and Wales has hit a record number of almost 60,000 as waiting times rocket for victims and defendants.’

Full Story

The Independent, 24th June 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Justice Secretary says it would be wrong for him to push for more rape prosecutions – The Independent

‘Labour accuses Robert Buckland of U-turn after he says he will not use his political position to urge more prosecutions and convictions.’

Full Story

The Independent, 20th June 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Justice Secretary Robert Buckland ‘sorry’ for failing rape victims – BBC News

‘Justice Secretary Robert Buckland has apologised to rape victims for low conviction rates in England and Wales and promised to “do a lot better”.’

Full Story

BBC News 18th June 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Rape cases in England and Wales will be hit hard by backlog, says police chief – The Guardian

‘Rape and domestic violence cases in England and Wales will be among the worst hit from the growing backlog in the judicial system, and trials could soon start collapsing because of severe delays, the new crime commissioner for England’s second biggest force has warned.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 6th June 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com