“The Law Society today warned against piecemeal implementation of Lord Justice Jackson’s proposals on civil litigation costs, telling the government that this could be ‘very damaging’ to access to justice. Jackson himself has said that his reforms will not succeed unless they are implemented as a whole.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 14th October 2010
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
“This month, the justice secretary, Kenneth Clarke, is expected to outline ways in which he could cut around a quarter of his department’s annual budget. Making prisoners work for 40 hours a week — the policy Clarke outlined at the Conservative conference on Tuesday — won’t go very far towards producing the £2bn or so of savings that he needs.”
The Guardian, 7th October 2010
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Feuding parents could be refused legal aid in custody battles unless they try mediation first, the justice minister signalled yesterday.”
Daily Telegraph, 7th October 2010
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
“The Law Society has won its High Court challenge to the Legal Services Commission’s family tender process.”
Law Society’s Gazette. 30th September 2010
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
“The Law Society warned that the Legal Services Commission’s family tender process will restrict access to justice for victims of domestic abuse, forced marriage and children, as its judicial review of the tender process began in the High Court today.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 23rd September 2010
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
“Baby Peter’s mother and her boyfriend have been denied public funding to be represented at any resumed inquest into the child’s death.”
BBC News, 21st September 2010
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
“Justice for vulnerable clients can be frustrated when lawyers are not up to the job.”
The Guardian, 17th September 2010
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Pressure is mounting on the Legal Services Commission over its handling of the tender for civil legal aid contracts, as it faces a growing number of judicial review challenges to the process, and talks with the Law Society broke down.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 16th September 2010
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
“A London firm has claimed sex discrimination in judicial review proceedings challenging the Legal Services Commission’s refusal to award it immigration and community care contracts.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 9th September 2010
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
“The Legal Services Commission has averted one legal challenge to its tender process by awarding a social welfare contract to a Birmingham firm which sought a judicial review of the LSC’s initial decision not to make an award.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 9th September 2010
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Regina (Patel) v Lord Chancellor [2010] EWHC 2220 (Admin); [2010] WLR (D) 240
“An applicant for exceptional funding by way of legal aid had to meet a high threshold to satisfy the test of ‘significant wider public interest’ in para 27.2.8 of the Legal Services Commission’s Funding Code Decision Making Guidance, subject to the latitude (or margin of discretion) accorded to the Lord Chancellor in the exercise of his judgment. There had to be the potential for client’s involvement in the proceedings to produce real benefits for individuals other than the client and for those benefits to be substantial.”
WLR daily, 6th September 2010
Source: www.lawreports.co.uk
Please note once a case has been reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.
“The Law Society is taking the Legal Services Commission to court seeking a declaration that the family tender process and outcome are ‘unlawful’, and asking for a suspension of the new contracts.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 27th August 2010
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
“The widow of one of the 7/7 suicide bombers today lost her High Court bid to overturn a decision refusing her legal aid for representation at the upcoming inquest into the deaths of 52 people in the attacks in London in 2005.”
The Independent, 27th August 2010
Source: www.independent.co.uk
“A High Court judge has … branded some of the criteria used by the Legal Services Commission in its recent social welfare tender ‘utterly absurd and totally irrational’.”
Law Society Gazette, 26th August 2010
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
“Some 31 firms across the north-east have joined forces in a bid to launch a High Court challenge to the Legal Services Commission’s recent family tender process, the Gazette has learned.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 19th August 2010
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
“The legal aid budget for asylum seekers is bloated because poor and rushed decisions are made early on – only radical reform, not cuts, can trim the bill.”
The Guardian, 19th August 2010
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Thousands of the most vulnerable people risk being denied emergency access to free advice from lawyers following major changes to the way legal aid is delivered, family law experts warn today.”
The Guardian, 17th august 2010
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“A firm of solicitors is fighting to continue its work helping victims of forced marriages after being told it no longer qualifies for legal aid funding.”
The Independent, 13th August 2010
Source: www.independent.co.uk
“The head of the family courts has warned the Legal Services Commission that he has been ‘inundated’ by family judges expressing serious concerns over the outcome of the family legal aid tender, in a letter seen by the Gazette.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 9th August 2010
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
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