Legal aid advice network ‘decimated’ by funding cuts – BBC News
‘Cuts to legal aid have created “deserts” of provision across England and Wales, a BBC investigation found.’
BBC News, 10th December 2018
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: legal representation
Government-commissioned review recommends legal aid for bereaved families – Law Society’s Gazette
‘The government has announced that it will introduce a new mental health bill following today’s publication of the findings of an independent review into the Mental Health Act 1983. However it is silent on the review’s recommendation that bereaved families should receive non-means tested legal aid – despite already pledging to accept two other recommendations.’
Law Society's Gazette, 6th December 2018
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Divorce is not a “blank cheque” for litigation, judge warns – Legal Futures
‘Litigation is not a “blank cheque” and divorcing people cannot behave on the basis that they are bound to be reimbursed for their costs, a leading family law judge has warned.’
Legal Futures, 27th November 2018
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Litigants in Person – an inherent problem with the justice system – Family Law Week
‘Matthew Richardson, barrister at Coram chambers considers the fundamental problem with re-shaping our justice system around a huge increase in litigants in person, caused by the removal of legal aid provision from most cases.’
Family Law Week, 9th November 2018
Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk
Bereaved family say they need £50,000 to pay for legal representation at inquest – The Guardian
‘The parents of a vulnerable student who took her own life at a university where there has been a series of deaths have spoken of the difficulty of ensuring there is a fair and transparent investigation because they are struggling to match the legal firepower of other parties involved.’
The Guardian, 11th October 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
Justice ‘only for the wealthy’: Law Society condemns legal aid cuts – The Guardian
‘It is increasingly difficult for defendants and claimants to find solicitors prepared to represent them due to government legal aid cuts, the Law Society has warned.’
The Guardian, 28th September 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
Stephen Port victims’ families say legal funding unfair – BBC News
‘Families of the victims of serial killer Stephen Port say it is unfair that they have to pay for legal representation at inquests into their relatives’ deaths while the police can rely on public money for their costs.’
BBC News, 5th September 2018
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Court of Appeal: Judge wrong to jail unrepresented woman for contempt – Litigation Futures
‘A judge was wrong to jail an unrepresented woman for contempt of court without giving her more time to find a lawyer, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’
Litigation Futures, 30th August 2018
Source: www.litigationfutures.com
Leave.EU parts ways with Mishcon de Reya amid legal challenge – The Guardian
‘The elite London law firm Mishcon de Reya and Arron Banks’ pro-Brexit Leave.EU campaign have parted ways in the midst of Leave.EU’s legal challenge to a ruling it broke electoral law, the Guardian has learned.’
The Guardian, 7th August 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
Government seeks views on legal aid for inquests – Ministry of Justice
‘Justice Minister Lucy Frazer today announced the launch of a call for evidence to consider the need for legal representation during inquests.’
Ministry of Justice, 19th July 2018
Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice
Facing up to it – Nearly Legal
‘Kamara v London Borough Of Southwark (2018) EWCA Civ 1616. In Makisi & Ors v Birmingham City Council (2011) EWCA Civ 355 (our report), the Court of Appeal decided that the right to make ‘oral submissions’ in response to a ‘minded to’ letter under 8(2) of the 1999 Review Procedures Regulations meant a right to request ‘face to face’ advocacy in making representations. In these three joined appeals, the sole issue was whether this meant that the ‘minded to’ to letter had to specify the right to a face to face meeting for representations.’
Nearly Legal, 15th July 2018
Source: nearlylegal.co.uk
Representation of children in public law proceedings – Ministry of Justice
‘Children subject to public law cases are usually represented by both a publicly-funded legal representative and a Cafcass guardian, known as the ‘tandem model’ of representation. This research explored how this model is working in practice during public law proceedings, and whether any reforms to the model are feasible or appropriate to ensure the rights of the child are safeguarded, efficient judicial case management is supported and public resources are effectively allocated.’
Ministry of Justice, 17th May 2018
Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice
Criminal defence lawyers face “extinction” as profession unites to fight for justice system – Legal Futures
‘Criminal defence lawyers in England and Wales could become “extinct”, the Law Society has warned on the back of data showing that this is an increasingly ageing part of the profession.’
Legal Futures, 17th April 2018
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Latitude for litigants in person? Apparently not (just about…) – Zenith Chambers
‘On 21 February 2018 judgment was given in the case of Barton -v- Wright Hassall LLP [2018] UKSC 12.’
Zenith Chambers, 26th February 2018
Source: www.zenithchambers.co.uk
‘It shames us to have families go on Twitter and crowdfund representation at inquests’ – Legal Voice
‘Two families bereaved by state-related deaths told MPs about their experiences at inquests last week. The House of Commons’ joint committee on human rights heard evidence from the parents of Connor Sparrowhawk, who drowned in a bath in a residential unit for people with learning disabilities, and Joseph Phuong who died following restraint by police during a mental health crisis. Jon Robins reports’
Legal Voice, 13th March 2018
Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk
Give paralegals rights of audience “so they can do more legal aid work” – Legal Futures
‘Paralegals should be given rights of audience to enable them to do more legal aid work, an academic has argued.’
Legal Futures, 4th January 2018
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Lammy review: MoJ rejects judicial diversity targets, cautious on choice of duty solicitor – Legal Futures
‘The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has rejected the idea of diversity targets for the judiciary and magistracy in its response to the Lammy review of the treatment of black and minority ethnic (BAME) people in the criminal justice system.’
Legal Futures, 19th December 2017
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Rise of LiPs “key challenge for family lawyers and courts system” – Legal Futures
‘The rise in the number of litigants-in-person in the family courts since the 2013 legal aid reforms has topped a poll of the causes of discontent among family law practitioners for the fifth year running.’
Legal Futures, 15th December 2017
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
A quick chat with the police – or an interview? You need a lawyer – Legal Voice
‘When the police investigate a criminal offence, it may not be necessary to formally arrest a suspect. In the past, it would be common practice that those being questioned by the police were arrested. Now, with the introduction of the 28-day bail limit, it is becoming a more accepted method for the police to question suspects by way of a ‘voluntary interview’.’
Legal Voice, 8th December 2017
Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk
