What Barnet’s judicial review tells us about the future of outsourcing – The Guardian

“Legal process will provide a chance for the courts to consider to what extent councils should consult with constituents.”

Full story

The Guardian, 19th December 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Barnet library squatters to be evicted, judge rules – The Guardian

Posted December 19th, 2012 in budgets, demonstrations, libraries, news, squatting by sally

“Squatters who have occupied a north London library for more than three months with the blessing of the local community are to be evicted, a judge has ruled. However, the court recognised their right to protest and the illegal tenants have been given a six-week stay of execution before they will be moved on.”

Full story

The Guardian, 18th December 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Model charity: ‘whatever happens, we’ll carry on, but it won’t be easy’ – The Guardian

Posted December 12th, 2012 in asylum, budgets, charities, homelessness, legal aid, news, refugees by sally

“Southampton and Winchester Visitors Group, which supports destitute refugees, may be hit by sweeping legal aid cuts.”

Full story

The Guardian, 11th December 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Unmeritorious appeals ‘clogging the arteries’ of CoA – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 12th, 2012 in appeals, budgets, courts, legal aid, legal representation, news by sally

“Increasing numbers of ‘unmeritorious’ appeals could have the effect of ‘clogging the arteries’ of the court of appeal, the registrar of criminal appeals has warned.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 11th December 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Government backs reform to regulatory appeals proposes – The Guardian

Posted December 7th, 2012 in appeals, budgets, competition, complaints, consumer protection, media, news by sally

“The ability of big companies to use armies of lawyers to prevent regulators from introducing consumer-friendly measures will be curbed after the chancellor’s autumn statement promised to make appeals quicker and easier.”

Full story

The Guardian, 6th December 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

2013/14 Budget Proposals: Consultation with the Profession – The Bar Council

Posted December 3rd, 2012 in barristers, budgets, consultations, news by sally

“The Treasurer is inviting the practising Bar to review the Bar Council’s Budget Proposals for 2013/14 and the associated ramifications for the Practising Certificate Fee (PCF). Individuals, chambers, employers, SBAs, Circuits and Bar Council committees are all urged to take this opportunity to comment on the proposals.”

Full story

The Bar Council, 30th November 2012

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Leveson: some of the key questions awaiting answers – The Guardian

“Lord Justice Leveson’s report is expected to cover much ground, and to set the stage for the next debate: what about the internet?”

Full story

The Guardian, 28th November 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

New code will keep high street shoppers safe from ‘chuggers’ – The Independent

Posted November 29th, 2012 in budgets, charities, codes of practice, complaints, local government, news by sally

“So-called ‘chuggers’ or ‘street fundraisers’ are seen by many as the scourge of the high street, but a new code of conduct may see shoppers across Britain breathe a sigh of relief as it sets out to curb aggressive money collecting which has plagued the practice.”

Full story

The Independent, 28th November 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Rich crooks net vast legal aid sums – BBC News

Posted November 26th, 2012 in assets recovery, budgets, confiscation, costs, drug offences, fraud, legal aid, news by sally

“Dozens of super-rich criminals – some worth tens of millions – have received vast sums in legal aid despite their illicit fortunes, an investigation has revealed.”

Full story

BBC News, 26th November 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

More criminals to escape courts under new police commissioners, magistrates warn – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 19th, 2012 in budgets, cautions, courts, fines, magistrates, news, police by sally

“More offenders will be ‘let off’ with cautions and fines following the introduction of police and crime commissioners, magistrates fear.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 19th November 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Another legal aid review, justice secretary? How original – The Guardian

Posted November 14th, 2012 in bills, budgets, legal aid, news by sally

“If we’re going to review legal aid again, why not widen access to justice for the public, rather than restrict it.”

Full story

The Guardian, 14th November 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Upper Tribunal confirms illegality of Catholic Charity’s ban on same-sex couple adoption – UK Human Rights Blog

“A private adoption agency could not justify its exclusion of same-sex prospective parents by arguing that this policy would keep open a source of funding that would otherwise dry up and reduce the number of adoption placements.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 3rd November 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Government orders building standards review – The Guardian

“Regulations covering building standards, including fire safety and wheelchair access, could be torn up in a government plan to cut costs for the construction industry and boost the economy.”

Full story

The Guardian, 26th October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Community justice: The power of the panel – BBC News

Posted October 22nd, 2012 in budgets, courts, news, restorative justice, volunteers by sally

“John Gallagher describes a neighbour dispute which had run for seven years and descended into an anti-social behaviour case.

It was finally brought to an end in a guildhall in South Somerset through a community justice panel.”

Full story

BBC News, 20th October 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Badger cull under threat from last-minute legal challenge – The Guardian

Posted October 22nd, 2012 in animals, budgets, environmental health, health & safety, judicial review, news by sally

“A last-minute legal challenge has dealt a fresh blow to the government’s increasingly troubled cull of badgers in England, the Observer has learned.”

Full story

The Guardian, 21st October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Criminal Cases Review Commission Triennial Review – call for evidence – Ministry of Justice

Posted October 19th, 2012 in budgets, Criminal Cases Review Commission, criminal justice, news, quangos by sally

“In order to review the continuing need for the functions and the form of the Criminal Cases Review Commission, and its statutory powers to perform these functions, the review team is seeking evidence from a wide range of bodies in response to the two principle aims stated by Cabinet Office (as detailed above). The review would particularly welcome hearing from applicants (current, previous or those who may potentially apply) to the Commission.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 19th October 2012

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Lord McNally’s speech for Legal Aid Practitioners Group Conference – Ministry of Justice

Posted October 15th, 2012 in bills, budgets, competition, dispute resolution, legal aid, speeches by tracey

“Lord McNally’s speech for Legal Aid Practitioners Group Conference.”

Full speech

Ministry of Justice, 12th October 2012

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Possessing small amount of drugs ‘should not be crime’ – BBC News

Posted October 15th, 2012 in budgets, drug offences, news, sentencing by tracey

“The penalties for drug misuse should be relaxed so that possession of small amounts would no longer be a criminal offence, the government has been urged.”

Full story

Full report

BBC News, 15th October 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Victims of crime may lose out on millions in compensation – The Guardian

Posted October 8th, 2012 in budgets, criminal injuries compensation, news by sally

“The government is studying plans to slash compensation for people injured by criminals, including the children of murder victims, despite mounting opposition from within its own ranks.”

Full story

The Guardian, 7th October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Row over rape prosecutors: Emily Thornberry v Keir Starmer QC – The Guardian

Posted October 1st, 2012 in barristers, budgets, Crown Prosecution Service, news, victims by sally

“Labour MP claims rape victims could be deprived of expert legal support because of savings made in hiring specially trained barristers.”

Full story

The Guardian, 28th September 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk