Straw announces new vision for legal aid delivery – Ministry of Justice
“The Ministry of Justice has today announced new plans for the future delivery of legal aid.”
Ministry of Justice, 3rd March 2010
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Category: legal aid
Ministers axe Legal Services Commission to wrest back control of legal aid budget – The Guardian
“The body in charge of the £2.1bn legal aid budget is to be abolished after 10 years , as part of radical changes to the way lower-income people access justice, ministers announced today (3 March).”
The Guardian, 3rd March 2010
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Major new project on expert witness fees – Ministry of Justice
“The Ministry of Justice announces the launch of a new project to review current fee arrangements and deliver new fee structures for professional expert witnesses.”
Ministry of Justice, 3rd March 2010
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
7/7 victims could have to pay for their own lawyers at inquests – Daily Telegraph
“The families of victims of the July 7 bombings and survivors of the attacks could have to spend their compensation and life insurance payouts on hiring lawyers for the inquests, it has emerged.”
Daily Telegraph, 1st March 2010
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Cost and class raise barriers to legal aid lawyer careers – The Guardian
“The lack of social mobility in the legal sector has reached critical levels, according to a report published today, with aspiring lawyers from less privileged backgrounds struggling to work in key areas of law.”
The Guardian, 1st March 2010
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Next Step in the Bar Council’s Judicial Review on Legal Aid – The Bar Council
“The Bar Council’s pre-action protocol letters for judicial review of two consultations which are being conducted by the Ministry of Justice and the Legal Services Commission, have been delivered today (17 February).”
The Bar Council, 17th February 2010
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
Bar Council Chairman Calls for Protection for Legal Aid at Vienna Conference – The Bar Council
“Speaking in Vienna today at the 38th Annual Conference of European Bar Leaders, the Chairman of the Bar, Nicholas Green QC said the latest round of proposed cuts in criminal legal aid in England and Wales, coupled with the absence of a clear strategic vision for the future of legal aid were placing the country’s justice system at risk.”
The Bar Council, 12th February 2010
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
Bar Council launches Judicial Review of Government’s Consultations on Criminal Legal Aid – The Bar Council
“In accordance with the Pre-Action Protocol for Judicial Review Claims, solicitors acting for the Bar Council have today written to the Legal Aid Minister, Lord Bach and to the Chairman of the Legal Services Commission, Sir Bill Callaghan in order to advance proceedings for judicial review of the Government’s consultations on criminal legal aid. ”
The Bar Council, 10th February 2010
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
Radical cleric’s home seized to pay legal bills – The Independent
“Legal aid bosses have seized the house belonging to radical cleric Abu Hamza to pay off his legal bills, it was revealed today.”
The Independent, 9th February 2010
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Bar Council Moves Toward Judicial Review of Government’s Consultations on Criminal Legal Aid – The Bar Council
“The Bar Council has taken the first step toward a judicial review (JR) of two consultations on Advocates Graduated Fees and Very High Cost Cases (VHCCs) which are being conducted by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and the Legal Services Commission (LSC) respectively. The Bar Council has instructed solicitors to write to the MoJ and the LSC, in accordance with the pre-action protocol for judicial review claims. The principal basis for the Bar Council’s claim is that the consultation exercise is inadequate and unfair.”
The Bar Council, 5th February 2010
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
Junior Criminal Bar under threat from botched Legal Aid Reforms warns Commons Committee – The Bar Council
“The influential House of Commons Public Accounts Committee has today (2 February) published a damning report on the Legal Services Commission’s handling of legal aid reform.”
The Bar Council, 2nd February 2010
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
Changes to civil legal aid crack down on fraud and refocus resources – Ministry of Justice
“Legal Aid Minister Willy Bach has today announced the government will tighten the rules for civil legal aid so that fraudsters are uncovered at an early stage, and funding is better targeted.”
Ministry of Justice, 3rd February 2010
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Crackdown on legal aid will hit expats – The Independent
“British citizens living abroad are to be barred from claiming legal aid in England and Wales as part of a cost-cutting crackdown unveiled by the Government today.”
The Independent, 3rd February 2010
Source: www.independent.co.uk
MPs attack ‘lax’ Legal Services Commission – Law Society’s Gazette
“The Public Accounts Committee has today lambasted the Legal Services Commission for its handling of legal aid funds.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 2nd February 2010
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
MPs warn of criminal justice ‘crisis’ – Law Society’s Gazette
“A committee of MPs has warned that the criminal justice system is ‘facing a crisis of sustainability’ as government spending on prisons takes resources away from other aspects of criminal justice.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 18th January 2010
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Law Society files judicial review application over defendants’ costs cap – Law Society’s Gazette
“The Law Society has filed a judicial review application in a move to overturn new government regulations restricting the costs that can be recovered by acquitted defendants.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 14th January 2010
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Crown Court defendants to be means tested – Ministry of Justice
“Five Crown Courts will today be the first in England and Wales to introduce a new scheme that will ensure people convicted of a crime contribute to their defence costs, where they have the means to do so.”
Ministry of Justice, 11th January 2010
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Legal costs emerge as defining issue of 2010’s biggest cases – The Lawyer
“As the profession awaits Jackson LJ’s civil justice costs review, the cases set to shape this year’s litigation get underway.”
The Lawyer, 10th January 2010
Source: www.thelawyer.com
‘Innocent’ driver admits offence to avoid cost of court defence – Daily Telegraph
“A company director has admitted a motoring offence he says he has not committed after becoming one of the first to be caught by controversial new rules on court costs.”
Daily Telegraph, 9th January 2010
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Law Society challenges move to charge acquitted defendants fees – The Guardian
“People accused of crimes will begin paying legal fees at five crown courts in England and Wales tomorrow , as the government faces increasing criticism over measures that will see some innocent people footing part of the bill for their defence.”
The Guardian, 10th January 2010
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
