Legal aid is a national institution like the NHS, so why is it not properly funded? – The Guardian

Posted August 10th, 2016 in barristers, budgets, costs, fees, legal aid, legal representation, news, solicitors by sally

‘The media jump on high-profile cases of criminals like Ben Butler and Jennie Gray receiving huge amounts in legal aid. The real outrage is successive governments’ policy to limit access to it.’

Full story

The Guardian, 9th August 2016

Source: www.gaurdian.co.uk

Anger over legal aid bill for Ellie Butler’s parents – The Guardian

‘The grandfather of murdered six-year-old Ellie Butler has condemned the legal aid granted to her killer father, amid reports the taxpayer picked up a bill of more than £1.5m for his legal expenses.’

Full story

The Guardian, 6th August 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Bar Council responds to latest LSB report on legal services market – Bar Council

‘Responding to the Legal Services Board’s latest report Evaluation: Changes in the legal services market 2006/07 – 2014/15 Chairman of the Bar, Chantal-Aimée Doerries QC, said: “The Legal Services Board’s report on changes in the legal services market contains some mixed messages.

Full press release

Bar Council, 4th July 2016

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

‘Borderline’ civil cases no longer eligible for legal aid – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Legal aid will no longer be made available for cases with poor or borderline prospects of success that may have received funding, the government has said.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 25th June 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Bar Mutual ordered to reimburse barrister after withdrawing funding over panel firm dispute – Legal Futures

‘The Bar’s professional indemnity insurer has been ordered to reimburse a barrister after it withdrew funding for him to defend disciplinary proceedings because he wanted to appoint a non-panel solicitor.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 24th June 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Crazy little thing called proportionality causes hammer to fall on Queen guitarist’s costs – Litigation Futures

‘Lawyers should tell clients in cases where costs significantly exceed damages that the new test of proportionality means they will receive “no more than a contribution” to those costs if they are successful, a costs judge has said.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 17th June 2016

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Defendants must be allowed legal advice before early guilty pleas, MPs say – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 15th, 2016 in guilty pleas, legal representation, news, plea bargaining, sentencing by sally

‘New guidelines on sentence reductions for early guilty pleas must allow defendants to obtain legal advice before deciding to plead guilty, an influential group of MPs says today.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 14th June 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Families separated for immigration purposes – UK Human Rights Blog

‘Last year 32,446 people subject to immigration control in the UK were detained by the government. Some had entered the country irregularly and were quickly removed. Others were detained pending removal or deportation. More than half of them were released back into the community, meaning that their detention had served no purpose.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 13th June 2016

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Defendant who represented himself gets new case review hope – The Guardian

‘A dyslexic defendant who represented himself in a crown court trial – after being handed 790 hours of CCTV footage to review in prison to support his alibi – is challenging his conviction for attempted murder.’

Full story

The Guardian, 10th June 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Judge suing Ministry of Justice says he has been denied a fair hearing – The Guardian

‘A judge facing a disciplinary hearing has complained he is being denied a fair hearing because he has been told he cannot be legally represented or call witnesses.’

Full story

The Guardian, 7th June 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Rule committee “sympathetic” with PIBA complaints about solicitors using unregistered barristers in court – Litigation Futures

‘The government has been asked to look at changing the Civil Procedure Rules to prevent solicitors from employing unregistered barristers as agents to represent clients in court.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 27th May 2016

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

BSB echoes Bar Council concerns on equality and access to justice – The Bar Council

‘The Chairman of the Bar Council, Chantal-Aimée Doerries QC has signalled agreement with the Bar Standards Board’s (BSB) concern for equality and diversity in the profession. As the independent regulator reported in its recently published Risk Outlook yesterday, the Bar Council also welcomed the focus on access to justice and on ensuring that consumers’ needs are properly met following the prolonged period of cuts to our system of justice.’

Full press release

The Bar Council, 18th May 2016

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Hillsborough verdict sparks call to rebalance police and criminal justice system – The Guardian

‘A cross-party campaign for radical reform of the police and criminal justice system in light of the Hillsborough inquests verdict has been launched by the shadow home secretary, Andy Burnham.’

Full story

The Guardian, 11th May 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Don’t try to defend yourself in court. But if you have to, here are some crucial tips – The Guardian

‘More people than ever seem to be defending themselves. If you do it, make sure you understand the law, know the lingo and how to play the system.’

Full story

The Guardian, 26th April 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Immigration tribunal can appoint litigation friend despite no provision in the rules – Free Movement

‘In the recent case of R (on the application of C) v First-Tier Tribunal and Others [2016] EWHC 707 (Admin) (not yet on BAILII but available on Westlaw) Picken J ruled that the immigration tribunal can appoint a litigation friend to represent a person who lacks capacity even though there is no provision to do so in the procedure rules, nor indeed in the statutory underpinnings of the tribunal.’

Full story

Free Movement, 27th April 2016

Source: www.freemovement.org.uk

Legal aid cuts have led to surge in DIY defence, says charity – The Guardian

‘Miscarriages of justice and long delays in the criminal justice system are becoming more common because a growing number of people are having to represent themselves in court, legal experts have warned.’
Full story

The Guardian, 23rd April 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Judges’ reforms threaten the role of lay legal advisers – The Guardian

Posted April 14th, 2016 in fees, legal representation, litigants in person, McKenzie friends, news by sally

‘Following legal aid cuts, plans to bar McKenzie Friends from charging fees will put help beyond financial reach for many.’

Full story

The Guardian, 13th April 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Public access barristers join forces with debt solutions business to offer fixed-fee representation – Legal Futures

‘A group of public access barristers have formed a partnership with a debt solutions company to provide debtors with fixed-fee court representation that they could otherwise not afford.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 12th April 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Susskind: online court is just the beginning – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The proposed online court is a “pragmatic first step” on the road to a fully integrated online and conventional court service, an influential body has predicted. Professor Richard Susskind (pictured), who leads a panel of experts on digital dispute resolution, said proposals by Lord Justice Briggs for an online court for small claims were to be welcomed.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 9th April 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Bar’s “tribal culture” a barrier to clients and diversity, says BSB report – Legal Futures

‘Barristers have a vital role in helping clients and witnesses understand the legal system but their own “distinct and tribal culture” is a barrier to doing so, a Bar Standards Board (BSB) report has found.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 4th April 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk