‘The former lord chancellor Chris Grayling “never believed access to social justice” was important while Liz Truss was a “disaster” in the same role, according to a highly revealing memoir by one of the country’s most senior, recently retired judges.’
The Guardian, 21st August 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Parents shocked by the sudden closure of a residential unit at a special needs school in Bristol, which resulted in children with severe and complex learning difficulties having to move out, have won legal aid funding to investigate a possible challenge to the lawfulness of the decision.’
The Guardian, 19th August 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘I go home each night worrying about my clients. I wonder who would know if something bad ever happened to them.’
The Guardian, 19th August 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Four leading legal charities have urged the government to delay next year’s whiplash reforms over fears that litigants in person and the organisations supporting them will be overwhelmed by the new regime.’
Legal Futures, 13th August 2019
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘Celebrations and policy campaigns continue to mark a 100 years of women in law. In 2017, as reported in the Law Society’s Annual Statistics Report Flyer 2018 ‘for the first time, the number of female practising certificate (PC) holders exceeded male colleagues…women made up 50.1% of all PC holders – up from 43.4% in 2007.’ Black Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME) professionals as practising solicitors were at its highest at 16.5% of the profession. While significant strives have been made, little attention has been paid to the impact of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) on the role of diversity, with particular reference to women and BAME, in family law.’
Family Law, 5th August 2019
Source: www.familylaw.co.uk
‘The UK’s most senior judge has appealed for people to give money to a charity whose volunteers support those who become embroiled in civil court cases but cannot afford a lawyer.’
The Guardian, 28th July 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Draft legislation will bring immigration and citizenship matters into the scope of legal aid for separated migrant children.’
Ministry of Justice, 22nd July 2019
Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice
‘The High Court has described as “reasonable” a decision by claimant lawyers that they needed the “freedom” of a conditional fee agreement (CFA) and shake off “the shackles” of legal aid to properly conduct a medical negligence claim.’
Litigation Futures, 24th July 2019
Source: www.litigationfutures.com
‘Half of all law centres and not-for-profit legal advice services in England and Wales have closed over the past six years, according to government figures.’
The Guardian, 15th July 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Family courts are having to “run up a down escalator” to keep pace with unprecedented increases in childcare cases, the most senior family judge in England and Wales has said.’
The Guardian, 3rd July 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Victims of discrimination were being denied access to justice and offenders going unchallenged as a result of a ‘failing’ legal aid system, as reported in the Justice Gap.’
Legal Voice, 21st June 2019
Source: legalvoice.org.uk
‘A Court of Protection judge has rejected an application by the Official Solicitor (OS), acting as litigation friend, for the London Borough of Harrow to pay its costs in proceedings under Section 21A of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.’
Local Government Lawyer, 18th June 2019
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘ A High Court judge has rejected a judicial review challenge brought by human rights group Liberty over the refusal to grant civil legal aid for the pursuit of an application to quash prohibitions contained in a public spaces protection order (PSPO).’
Local Government Lawyer, 18th June 2019
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘Victims of discrimination in England and Wales are being denied justice due to soaring legal aid cuts, the equalities watchdog has warned. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said people who had been discriminated against for reasons such as their race, gender or disability were being left to represent themselves in court, creating a “David vs Goliath” scenario or letting perpetrators to go entirely unchallenged.’
The Independent, 19th June 2019
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘A free advice clinic provided by law students has a six-month waiting list because people on low incomes struggle to get a solicitor, its director says.’
BBC News, 13th June 2019
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Legal representation for immigration detainees is very poor, including the quality of advice given by solicitors, according to a charity that challenges detention in removal centres and prisons.’
Legal Futures, 4th June 2019
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘The decimation of legal aid has contributed to “the systematic immiseration of millions across Great Britain”, the UN’s expert on poverty and human rights said yesterday.’
Legal Futures, 23rd May 2019
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
© Inner Temple Library 2019