Legal aid providers given certainty and stability for the future – Ministry of Justice

Posted April 3rd, 2008 in legal aid, legal services, press releases by sally

“The Legal Services Commission, Law Society and Ministry of Justice have announced they have reached agreement on the best way forward following the Court of Appeal’s judgment on the Unified Contract.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 2nd April 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Barristers told: last chance to sign up for legal aid contract – The Times

Posted March 11th, 2008 in barristers, legal aid, news by sally

“This Friday is the deadline, no ifs or buts, says Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, the minister in charge of the change.”

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The Times, 11th March 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Legal Services Commission v Rasool – WLR Daily

Posted March 7th, 2008 in costs, law reports, legal aid, limitations by sally

Legal Services Commission v Rasool [2008] EWCA Civ 154; WLR (D) 75

For the purposes of limitation and ascertaining the date of accrual of a cause of action permitting the Legal Services Commission to recover costs following revocation of a legal aid certificate, it was not a condition precedent that the quantum of any such costs should first be established before time started to run.”

WLR Daily, 6th March 2008

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.

Bar Council warns that Best Value Tendering scheme is flawed – The Bar Council

Posted March 4th, 2008 in barristers, legal aid, press releases, tenders by sally

“The Bar Council’s working group on Best Value Tendering (BVT) has warned that the Legal Services Commission’s (LSC) ideas will damage quality, reduce choice, and harm diversity. The Working Group, which is chaired by Vice-Chairman of the Bar Desmond Browne QC, has responded to the LSC Consultation Paper on BVT.”

Full story

The Bar Council, 3rd March 2008

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Highest paid barristers from legal aid for the year ending 31 March 2007 – Ministry of Justice

Posted March 4th, 2008 in barristers, legal aid, news, remuneration by sally

“A breakdown of the ten highest paid criminal and civil barristers from the criminal defence service and the community legal service. The information covers the year ending 31 March 2007. A section on frequently asked questions about legal aid fees is also included in the document.”

Highest paid barristers for the year ending 31 March 2007 (PDF)

Ministry of Justice, 3rd March 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Legal aid: war of words erupts – The Times

Posted February 19th, 2008 in barristers, legal aid, news by sally

“Scores of top-level terror trials as well as the most complex murder and rape cases are at risk of being run by second-rank lawyers after more than 2,000 Queen’s Counsel and junior barristers boycotted new pay rates.”

Full story

The Times, 19th February 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Bar Council chair slams LSC as strike looms – The Lawyer

Posted February 4th, 2008 in barristers, legal aid, news by sally

“Bar chairman Timothy Dutton QC has warned that there is a risk of a second class system of legal aid in England due to the Legal Services Commission’s (LSC) new contracts.”

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The Lawyer, 1st February 2008

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Protesting barristers threaten costs regime – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 25th, 2008 in barristers, costs, fees, legal aid, news by sally

“Hundred of criminal barristers have refused to sign a new contract for high-value legal aid work in a move that will put the very high-cost case (VHCC) regime in jeopady.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 24th January 2008

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
 

Threat to fraud cases as barristers reject new deal – Financial Times

Posted January 24th, 2008 in barristers, fees, legal aid, news by sally

“Big fraud cases face the threat of delays in the courts as a row escalates between barristers and the government over the launch of competitive tendering for legal aid work.”

Full story

Financial Times,  23rd January 2008

Source: www.ft.com

Bar Council hits back in legal aid row – The Times

Posted January 23rd, 2008 in barristers, legal aid, news by sally

“The Bar Council has hit back over accusations that it is acting illegally by encouraging barristers to boycott new legal aid contracts for the most serious trials.”

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The Times, 23rd January 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Barristers’ legal aid boycott may leave defendants in limbo – The Guardian

Posted January 21st, 2008 in barristers, legal aid, news by sally

“Hundreds of barristers are boycotting new legal aid contracts which must be signed by today, in a move which could leave defendants charged with the most serious crimes, including complex fraud, terrorism and murder, without proper representation.”

Full story

The Guardian, 21st January 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Legal aid problems emerge – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 11th, 2008 in legal aid, news by sally

“The year started badly for legal aid lawyers, with the prospect of the general civil contract being terminated and confusion over whether police station fixed fees include VAT.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 10th January 2008

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

‘The real danger is not being able to attract the best advocates into the hardest cases’ – The Times

Posted January 8th, 2008 in barristers, legal aid, special report by sally

“Tim Dutton, QC, the new chairman of the Bar, has a real fight on his hands. He explains why the Government is on the wrong track.”

Full story

The Times, 8th January 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Solicitors shunning legal aid work as pay rates fall, survey reveals – The Guardian

Posted January 7th, 2008 in legal aid, news, solicitors by sally

“Some of the most experienced solicitors are deserting legal aid work amid a shake-up of the scheme which will see their pay rates drop further. The exodus is particularly acute among expert lawyers who represent children and parents in cases where local authorities are threatening to take the children into care. The departure of some of the leading specialists raises concerns about the quality of representation for parents at risk of losing their children, who often face complex medical evidence which is hard to rebut.”

Full story

The Guardian, 7th January 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Regina (Main) v Minister for Legal Aid – Times Law Reports

Posted December 18th, 2007 in human rights, inquests, law reports, legal aid by sally

Regina (Main) v Minister for Legal Aid

Court of Appeal

“An inquest held in public was an inquisitorial, not an adversarial process and the coroner could reasonably be expected to carry out a proper investigation without the assistance of counsel for any victims’ families.”

The Times, 18th December 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.

Access to Justice – Speech by Mr Justice Lightman

Posted December 13th, 2007 in dispute resolution, fees, legal aid, speeches by sally

Access to Justice (PDF)

Speech by Mr Justice Lightman

The Law Society, 5th December 2007

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

No legal aid for Hercules inquest – BBC News

Posted December 10th, 2007 in armed forces, inquests, legal aid, news by sally

“Families of nine UK personnel killed in a plane shot down in Iraq will get no legal aid at an inquest but those of an Australian airman will, it has emerged.”

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BBC News, 9th December 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Seeking new frontiers – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 7th, 2007 in contracts, Law Society, legal aid, legal services, news by sally

“Andrew Holroyd hails a landmark ruling for legal aid lawyers and the launch of the law society’s international division.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 6th December 2007

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Society wins appeal against LSC contract – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 7th, 2007 in contracts, legal aid, legal services, news by sally

“New civil legal aid fees may have to be scrapped in light of the appeal court’s ruling last week that the Legal Services Commission’s (LSC) unified contract is unlawful.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 6th December 2007

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Children of multimillionaire given legal aid in divorce battle – The Guardian

Posted December 3rd, 2007 in divorce, legal aid, trusts by sally

“Two children of a multimillionaire jeweller have been given legal aid of £30,750 to protect their interests under a family trust amid a divorce war between their parents.”

Full story

The Guardian, 3rd December 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk