‘Last week the government published its long-awaited review into much criticised changes to our legal aid system. It is accompanied by a Legal Support Action Plan that the Law Society says represents a step towards fixing our ailing system, while others have expressed dismay at the uphill battle many still face to access justice.’
Rights Info, 15th February 2019
Source: rightsinfo.org
‘Bereaved families and lawyers are threatening to boycott the long-awaited inquests into the 1974 IRA Birmingham pub bombings because of concern over missing documents, lack of legal funding and what the process can deliver.’
The Guardian, 17th February 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘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.’
Law Society's Gazette, 8th February 2019
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘The Ministry of Justice sweetened its long-awaited review of swingeing legal aid cuts with a pledge to spend £8m on legal support and litigants in person. But does its response go far enough?’
Law Society's Gazette, 11th February 2019
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘The justice secretary said yesterday that innovation and technology, rather than significant increases in legal aid spending, are the way to improve access to justice.’
Legal Futures, 8th February 2019
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘Indefinite detention in immigration centres is traumatic and the practice should be stopped, with people ideally held for no longer than 28 days, a parliamentary committee has recommended. In a highly critical report, the joint committee on human rights (JCHR), made up of MPs and peers, described the UK’s immigration system as “slow, unfair and expensive to run”, and said detention should be authorised only by decision-makers independent of the Home Office.’
The Guardian, 7th February 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The number of parents forced to represent themselves in child custody battles at family courts has more than doubled in six years in the wake of legal aid cuts. Campaigners have warned “huge injustices” are taking place and children’s best interests are being “obscured”. Government data revealed 23,881 parents who applied to open private law cases for child arrangements in 2017 had no legal representation – up 134 per cent since 2011.’
The Independent, 4th February 2019
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘The Lib-Dem peer says coalition cuts were necessary but have gone too far – people must be able to access justice.’
The Guardian, 30th January 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Greater efforts need to be made to put lay court users at the centre of the legal system so they understand the process, know what to expect, and can therefore participate fully, according to an influential justice think tank.’
Litigation Futures, 28th January 2019
Source: www.litigationfutures.com
‘The Ministry of Justice says its delayed review of the impact of its controversial legal aid reforms is nearly done after publishing a table showing an alarming drop in the number of people who have been granted public funding in welfare benefits cases over the last decade.’
Law Society's Gazette, 17th January 2019
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘The Legal Aid Agency will have to gear up for another High Court showdown after a civil liberties group was granted permission to challenge the lack of public funding to help homeless people targeted by protection orders aimed at tackling anti-social behaviour.’
Law Society's Gazette, 16th January 2019
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘Rose-Marie Drury, Senior Associate, and Sue Brookes, Principal Associate, Mills & Reeve LLP analyse the news and case law relating to financial remedies and divorce during December 2018.’
Family Law Week, 11th January 2018
Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk
‘Digitising the divorce application process and hoping for the best isn’t enough to reform the legal requirements for splitting up, the Law Society has warned, telling the government to restore legal aid so that separating couples can receive early advice.’
Law Society's Gazette, 11th December 2018
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘Cuts to legal aid have created “deserts” of provision across England and Wales, a BBC investigation found.’
BBC News, 10th December 2018
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘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.’
Law Society's Gazette, 6th December 2018
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘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.’
Family Law Week, 9th November 2018
Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk
© Inner Temple Library 2019