Category: legal aid

Bar Council Launches Booklet on Legal Aid – The Bar Council

Posted June 24th, 2009 in barristers, legal aid, news by sally

“The Bar Council today publishes a booklet marking the 60th anniversary of the Legal Aid and Advice Act 1949. The booklet, Legal Aid: 60 Years of Public Service by Barristers, which will be launched at the Chairman of the Bar’s Media Reception at Middle Temple this evening, sets out the history of legal aid since 1949 and describes how barristers funded by legal aid have acted for some of society’s most vulnerable over the past 60 years.”

Full story

The Bar Council, 23rd June 2009

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Lawyers claim bidding system for criminal defence work may be illegal – The Guardian

Posted June 22nd, 2009 in law firms, legal aid, news, tenders by sally

“Government proposals to introduce competitive tendering for criminal defence work will ‘savagely reduce’ the number of firms, lawyers say, and may be unlawful in their disproportionate impact on minority lawyers.”

Full story

The Guardian, 21st June 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lawyers revolt over auction of legal aid work – The Times

Posted June 18th, 2009 in legal aid, legal profession, news by sally

“Ministers are facing a growing revolt over plans to hold a ‘reverse auction’ to award legal aid contracts to the lowest bidders. Nearly 2,500 lawyers who say the scheme will cause ‘irreparable damage’ to the quality of the justice system have already signed a Downing Street online petition urging the plans be scrapped.”

Full story

The Times, 18th June 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Defence fee caps will be final blow for legal aid, practitioners say – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 12th, 2009 in law firms, legal aid, news by sally

“Government proposals to cap payments made to acquitted defendants who have paid privately for their defence are the ‘final nail in the coffin’ of criminal legal aid firms, a leading practitioner group has warned.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette. 11th June 2009

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Chancery Lane hits out at means testing proposals – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 12th, 2009 in criminal justice, legal aid, news by sally

“Government proposals for Crown court means testing could deny vulnerable people access to justice and are being ‘rushed in’ too quickly, the Law Society said today.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 11th June 2009

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Legal aid helps to bridge the justice gap – Ministry of Justice

Posted June 12th, 2009 in legal aid, press releases by sally

“Legal Aid Minister Willy Bach and Sir Bill Callaghan, Chair of the Legal Services Commission, have praised legal aid lawyers for their dedication to a fundamental service that underpins the justice system.”

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 11th June 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Proposed reforms help most in need and deliver significant savings – Ministry of Justice

Posted June 9th, 2009 in legal aid, news by sally

“Plans to divert more legal aid funds to those most in need while delivering better value for taxpayers’ money are on track following the publication of the government’s response to a consultation on Crown Court means testing and Central Funds reforms.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 8th June 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Defendants must help pay own legal fees, government announces – The Guardian

Posted June 9th, 2009 in legal aid, news by sally

“Defendants in some serious criminal ­trials including cases of murder, manslaughter and rape will have to contribute to their own legal fees under plans announced by the ­government today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 8th June 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Defendant escapes confiscation because no advocate would take legal aid fee – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 5th, 2009 in confiscation, Crown Prosecution Service, legal aid, news by sally

“A defendant has escaped confiscation proceedings because she was unable to find an advocate willing to accept the legal aid rate to represent her. The court’s decision, upheld in the Court of Appeal, will fuel an ongoing dispute over the levels of legal aid fees.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 4th June 2009

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Bar Council calls on firms to fund civil litigation – Legal Week

Posted June 4th, 2009 in law firms, legal aid, news by sally

“City law firms could help fund some civil litigation cases as part of sweeping proposals to overhaul litigation funding mechanisms in the UK.”

Full story

Legal Week, 4th June 2009

Source: www.legalweek.com

Mohammadi v Shellpoint Trustees Ltd and another – WLR Daily

Posted May 26th, 2009 in costs, law reports, legal aid, solicitors by sally

Mohammadi v Shellpoint Trustees Ltd and another [2009] EWHC 1098 (Ch); [2009] WLR (D) 169

“When a legally assisted person’s solicitors had ceased to act, without another firm being retained under a legal aid certificate, and that fact had been communicated to the opposing party, then from the moment of that communication the litigant ceased to be a legally assisted person for the purposes of the Legal Aid Act 1988.”

WLR Daily, 21st May 2009

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Minister questions legal aid priorities at 60th anniversary debate – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 1st, 2009 in legal aid, news by sally

“Legal aid has ‘failed the very people it was set up to protect’ the minister in charge, told a debate hosted by the Law Society this week to mark the 60th anniversary of the Legal Aid Act.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 30th April 2009

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Legal aid payments – Ministry of Justice

Posted May 1st, 2009 in legal aid, legal profession, press releases, remuneration by sally

“The annual list of the highest paid solicitors firms and barristers from legal aid in 2007/08 has been published on the Ministry of Justice website.”

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 30th April 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Bar thinktank proposes contingent legal aid fund – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted April 24th, 2009 in legal aid, news by sally

“A contingent legal aid fund (CLAF) could ensure access to justice and help solve the legal aid crisis, according to a report published today by a Bar Council thinktank.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette. 23rd April 2009

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Mutual Fund ‘Could Ensure Access to Justice and Help Solve Legal Aid Crisis – New report makes key contribution to legal funding debate – The Bar Council

Posted April 24th, 2009 in legal aid, press releases by sally

“A self-funding scheme to provide assistance to those deemed eligible for help in mounting civil legal claims could help to ensure access to justice for those currently ineligible for legal aid but without the means to enforce their rights. The idea comes in a new report commissioned by the Bar Council’s Policy Advisory Group ‘think tank’.”

Full press release

The Bar Council, 23rd April 2009

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Revealed: The Human Cost of Proposed Cuts to Family Legal Aid Dossier of Case Studies Submitted to Ministers – The Bar Council

Posted April 24th, 2009 in family courts, legal aid, press releases by sally

“The potential human cost of denying vulnerable families and children access to expert legal support in care and related cases is revealed today in a dossier of case studies, which shows the difficulties which are already being encountered by family barristers as they seek to represent their clients to the best of their abilities.”

Full press release

The Bar Council, 21st April 2009

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Woolf reforms and cost-cutting have led to acute shortages and a ‘deficient’ system – The Times

Posted April 16th, 2009 in legal aid, news by sally

“If recent headlines have been about judges’ concerns over sentencing criminals, District Judge David Oldham is determined to press the case for the other half of the justice system. The civil courts, he says, are woefully under-resourced — a problem ever more acute in times of hardship.”

Full story

The Times, 16th April 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

‘Families risk losing children’ under £6.5m legal aid cuts – The Times

Posted April 15th, 2009 in family courts, legal aid, news by sally

“Parents accused of abuse who risk losing their children may be forced to represent themselves in court under proposed cuts to family legal aid, judges and lawyers have warned.”

Full story

The Times, 15th April 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Barrister Belle Turner says she can’t work at new legal aid rates – The Times

Posted April 15th, 2009 in family courts, legal aid, news by sally

“Belle Turner, a leading junior barrister about to give birth to her first child, is ‘sad and angry’ about the planned cuts to family legal aid.”

Full story

The Times, 15th April 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Access to civil justice is failing, says Association of District Judges president – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted April 3rd, 2009 in fees, legal aid, news by sally

“Access to justice in the civil courts is worse than it was a decade ago and is set to decline further, according to the new president of the Association of District Judges.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette. 2nd April 2009

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk