Prison experts urge replacement of run down ‘dungeons’ with ‘superjails’ – the Guardian

Posted June 17th, 2013 in budgets, news, prisons by sally

“More than 30 ‘run down and poorly located’ jails, including some of the prison system’s most famous names – Dartmoor, Holloway, Pentonville, Wandsworth and Wormwood Scrubs – should be shut down and replaced with a new generation of ‘superjails’, according to prison experts.”

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The Guardian, 17th June 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lawyers In Revolt – BBC Law in Action

“Will the Ministry of Justice back down over cuts to legal aid? Radio 4’s legal magazine follows the bitter dispute between the profession and the government.

This week, Maura McGowan QC of the Bar Council is in the studio with Joshua Rozenberg, making the lawyers’ case. But is she right that the legal profession will be undermined? Lord McNally responds for the government.”

Listen

BBC Law in Action, 11th June 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Hundreds of millions from legal aid budget helps banks defend fraud cases – The Independent

Posted June 12th, 2013 in banking, barristers, budgets, fraud, legal aid, news by sally

“The poorest and most vulnerable people in society are being hit by cuts to the legal system while the government bankrolls the wealthiest, a senior QC said today [11 June].”

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The Independent, 11th June 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Costs that fall within court-approved budget not necessarily proportionate, court suggests – OUT-LAW.com

Posted June 11th, 2013 in appeals, budgets, costs, news, proportionality by tracey

“Costs that fall within a court-approved budget will not necessarily be ‘reasonable’ or ‘proportionate’ simply because they fall within the scope of that budget, a Court of Appeal judge has suggested.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 10th June 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Legal aid cuts will deny vulnerable women justice – The Guardian

“Campaigners warn that proposals to slash the legal aid budget will price trafficked women and victims of domestic violence out of the justice system.”

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The Guardian, 10th June 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Six reasons the cuts to legal aid will ruin our justice system – The Independent

“Even the government’s own lawyers are horrified by these reforms.”

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The Independent, 7th June 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

CA: costs are not reasonable just because court has approved budget – Litigation Futures

Posted June 6th, 2013 in appeals, budgets, costs, news, proportionality by sally

“Costs judges should not treat costs as reasonable or proportionate simply because they fall within the scope of the court-approved budget, the Court of Appeal has warned.”

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Litigation Futures, 5th June 2013

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Proposed legal aid system ‘won’t compete on quality’ – BBC News

Posted June 5th, 2013 in budgets, judges, legal aid, news, quality assurance, solicitors by sally

“A former Court of Appeal judge has challenged the government’s proposed changes to legal aid in England and Wales.”

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BBC News, 4th June 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Blowing the Budget – an early warning – Zenith Chambers

Posted June 4th, 2013 in budgets, case management, civil procedure rules, costs, news by sally

“The Costs Management Rules, now set out at Section II of CPR 3, will apply to the majority of multi-track cases issued on or after 1st April 2013.”

Full story (PDF)

Zenith Chambers, 30th May 2013

Source: www.zenithchambers.co.uk

Lift off for Budgetary Control – New Law Journal

Posted June 4th, 2013 in budgets, case management, costs, news by sally

“HH Simon Brown QC continues his exclusive NLJ online series on costs management post-Jackson.”

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New Law Journal, 31st May 2013

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk

Law Society defies scholars with Mendham Collection auction – The Guardian

Posted June 3rd, 2013 in auctioneers, budgets, Christianity, Law Society, legal aid, news by sally

“The Law Society, facing straitened times following successive cuts in legal aid, is auctioning a collection of rare Reformation-era bibles and religious tracts in defiance of protests from scholars.”

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The Guardian, 3rd June 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Leading barristers warn over legal aid cuts – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 29th, 2013 in barristers, budgets, judicial review, legal aid, news by sally

“Dozens of Britain’s leading barristers have warned that reforms of the legal aid system by Chris Grayling, the Justice Secretary, will ‘seriously undermine the rule of law’.”

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Daily Telegraph, 28th May 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Home Office pledge to review ‘excessive’ time spent on bail is ignored by Government – The Independent

Posted May 29th, 2013 in bail, budgets, news, prosecutions, statistics, time limits by sally

“The Home Office has been accused of going back on a promise to tackle the ‘excessive duration’ of police bail, after new figures showed that more than 3,000 people have waited six months for a decision on charges.”

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The Independent, 28th May 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

We are ready for post-Jackson role, vows High Court judge – Litigation Futures

Posted May 24th, 2013 in budgets, costs, judges, judiciary, news, proportionality by tracey

“A High Court judge says there is a ‘real determination’ among judges to embrace their new ‘project management’ role, and dismissed fears that they are not ready for the Jackson reforms.”

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Litigation Futures, 24th May 2013

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Interview: Chris Grayling – Law Society’s Gazette

“In his foreword to the consultation on ‘transforming’ legal aid, justice secretary Chris Grayling explains that change is needed to ‘boost public confidence’ and cut costs, which he claims have ‘spiralled out of control’. Speaking to the Gazette, he offers no empirical evidence that the public has lost confidence in the system. But he claims to have received ‘lots of letters and emails’ from people concerned about legal aid entitlement. He alludes to prisoners getting legal aid ‘to argue they should have a different cell’, and migrants receiving civil legal aid.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 20th May 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Criminal legal aid cuts to reach £370m – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 20th, 2013 in budgets, consultations, fees, legal aid, news, solicitors by sally

“The Ministry of Justice has confirmed that projected savings of £150m in fee cuts will not, as was expected, count towards required cuts of £220m a year – taking cuts in criminal legal aid to £370m.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 17th May 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Cut Price Justice – Garden Court Chambers Blog

“Anna Morris explains why the legal profession and the public must unite to oppose the government’s attack on legal aid.”

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Garden Court Chambers Blog, 20th May 2013

Source: www.gclaw.wordpress.com

Legal watchdog warns budget cuts will damage justice – The Guardian

“Depriving defendants of the ability to choose their own solicitor will undermine confidence in the criminal justice system, an official legal watchdog warned on Monday.”

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The Guardian, 20th May 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Housing benefit changes legal test to begin at High Court – BBC News

“A legal test is set to begin into the government’s decision to cut housing benefit for recipients living in properties that have a spare room.”

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BBC News, 15th May 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

NHS ‘cover-up culture’ to be tackled with fines – The Guardian

“Hospitals that give false information about death rates will face unlimited fines under new powers aimed at preventing another Mid-Staffordshire-style health scandal.”

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The Guardian, 10th May 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk