Applications for Anti-Social Behaviour Injunctions and Gang-Related Violence Injunctions – Local Government Lawyer

‘Richard Dewsbery reports on an important recent change to the Civil Procedure Rules that affects the N16A application form.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 1st September 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Legal aid JR to be heard in run-up to Christmas – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A judicial review of the lord chancellor’s decision not to raise criminal legal aid fees for solicitors by the minimum 15% recommended by a government-commissioned review will be heard in the weeks leading up to Christmas, the Gazette has learned.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 24th July 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Employment law highlights “gender gap” in civil legal justice – Legal Futures

‘Employment law is one of the main areas where women face systemic barriers to seeking civil legal help and legal aid needs to be expanded as a result, a feminist think tank has urged.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 17th July 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Legal aid cuts denying vulnerable women access to justice, says thinktank – The Guardian

‘Vulnerable women in England and Wales, including survivors of domestic and sexual abuse, are being denied justice because of cuts to the civil legal aid budget, a thinktank has said.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 13th July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Boosted UK legal aid rates ‘not enough’ to deal with Rwanda asylum cases – The Guardian

‘The Law Society has warned that a proposed 15% increase in legal aid rates will not be enough to ensure that there are sufficient immigration lawyers to deal with the government’s controversial scheme to send asylum seekers to Rwanda.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 5th July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Society secures JR permission over criminal legal aid fees – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Law Society has been granted permission to take the government to court over its decision not to raise criminal legal aid fees by the minimum 15% recommended by the Bellamy review.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 22nd June 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Serial killer Levi Bellfield wins battle to marry in prison – The Independent

‘Serial killer Levi Bellfield is to be allowed to marry after prison officials accepted there is no way to stop him under current laws.’

Full Story

The Independent, 16th June 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Access to vital legal support extended to millions of vulnerable people – Ministry of Justice

‘Domestic abuse victims and children are among millions more people who will have access to legal aid under major government investment to support those who need it most.’

Full Story

Ministry of Justice, 25th May 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Family members taking on vulnerable children to receive better legal support – Ministry of Justice

‘Extended family members seeking to provide long-term, stable care for vulnerable children will be able to access free legal advice, thanks to new government investment announced today (30 April 2023).’

Full Story

Ministry of Justice, 1st May 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Legal aid widened but grandparents ‘will fall through justice gap’ – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The scope of legal aid has been widened to family and friends applying to look after a vulnerable child – however, the Law Society says the changes do not go far enough.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 2nd May 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Windrush victims being failed by compensation scheme – report – BBC News

‘Windrush scandal victims are still facing long waits and inadequate offers of compensation, according to a new report by a global human rights group. Human Rights Watch said the Home Office-run compensation scheme should be handed to an independent body.’

Full Story

BBC News, 17th April 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Law Society calls in leading figures to support “21st century justice” project – Legal Futures

Posted March 14th, 2023 in civil justice, costs, electronic filing, legal aid, news, solicitors by sally

‘The Law Society has pulled together figures from law firms, technology and business – as well as the former Senior President of Tribunals – to support a project looking at how the justice system can be made “fit for the future”.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 14th March 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

High Court ruling expected to widen scope of legal aid for parents – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The High Court’s decision in a challenge brought by a domestic abuse complainant against the Ministry of Justice will widen the scope of legal aid for parents who share caring arrangements, a public law campaign group has said.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 9th March 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

UK mother unlawfully denied legal aid in case against abusive ex, court rules – The Guardian

‘A decision to deny a single mother legal aid to enforce a child custody agreement against her abusive ex-partner was unlawful, the high court has ruled.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 9th March 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Domestic abuse survivor takes UK justice ministry to court over legal aid – The Guardian

‘A single mother and domestic abuse survivor is taking the Ministry of Justice to court this week after being refused legal aid because she was deemed to have no dependents, even though she had applied for the funding to enforce a child custody arrangement.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 6th March 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ministers face legal battle with criminal solicitors over legal aid – The Guardian

Posted March 2nd, 2023 in criminal justice, legal aid, news, remuneration, solicitors by tracey

‘Ministers could face a legal battle over their refusal to increase legal aid rates for criminal defence solicitors in England and Wales by the minimum recommended in an independent review. The Law Society, the professional body for solicitors, claims there has been an “unlawful and irrational” failure to implement the 15% minimum increase recommended by Christopher Bellamy as necessary to sustain the future of the criminal justice system.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 1st March 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ministry of Justice widens scope of legal aid to cover looked-after children with SEN – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Ministry of Justice has changed the law so that foster parents and approved prospective adopted parents bringing SEND appeals on behalf of a looked-after child will “not be means assessed”.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 14th February 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Domestic abuse victims ‘still being cross-examined by alleged perpetrator’ – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Victims of domestic abuse are still being cross-examined by alleged perpetrators in the family courts despite the “appalling practice” being banned by the Domestic Abuse Act, women’s charities and solicitors have told the lord chancellor.

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 12th February 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Raab faces judicial review over criminal legal aid fees – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Law Society has issued an ultimatum to lord chancellor Dominic Raab over criminal legal aid fees: increase them by the minimum amount recommended by the government-commissioned Bellamy review or face a judicial review.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 11th January 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Civil legal aid review ‘to report in 2024’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 6th, 2023 in civil justice, legal aid, Ministry of Justice, news by tracey

‘The Ministry of Justice has finally set the ball rolling on its major review of the civil legal aid sector. However, the timetable suggests any measures to save the shrinking sector may not be implemented until late 2024 at the earliest, in the likely runup to the next general election.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 5th January 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk