Barrister Conduct ‘Trends and Performance’ Report Released – Bar Standards Board

he Bar Standards Board’s Professional Conduct Department (PCD) has today released its third quarter ‘trends and performance’ report.

Full story

Bar Standards Board, 8th April 2013

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

No legal aid? How to represent yourself in court – BBC News

Posted April 8th, 2013 in budgets, divorce, legal aid, litigants in person, news by sally

“The legal profession expects that changes to the legal aid system in England and Wales will lead to a rise in the number of people who have to represent themselves in court.”

Full story

BBC News, 6th April 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Legal aid cuts: how to represent yourself in court – The Guardian

Posted April 2nd, 2013 in litigants in person, news by sally

“Family law, immigration and employment cases are no longer eligible for legal aid. So how can you take on the system alone?”

Full story

The Guardian, 1st April 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Bar Council Chairman: “We won’t stand by as vulnerable people suffer”. Barristers launch how-to Guide for DIY litigants – The Bar Council

Posted April 2nd, 2013 in litigants in person, news by sally

“The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has today published A Guide to Representing Yourself in Court.”

Full story

The Bar Council, 1st April 2013

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

You are not Rumpole of the Bailey: As more people represent themselves in court, the Bar Council has issued some pressing advice – The Independent

Posted April 2nd, 2013 in litigants in person, news by sally

“People who are forced to represent themselves in court as legal aid budgets are cut should not attempt to imitate the fast-talking lawyers they see on television, according to a new ‘idiot’s guide’.”

Full story

The Independent, 1st April 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Legal aid cuts force closure of almost a third of Shelter offices – The Guardian

“Cuts to legal aid are forcing the closure of almost a third of Shelter’s housing advice centres and compelling the Red Cross to abandon its assistance for family reunions, the organisations claim.”

Full story

The Guardian, 11th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Triumph for canal boat litigant in person – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted February 18th, 2013 in canals, litigants in person, news by sally

“A boat owner has won his appeal against the British Waterways Board preventing him from mooring his boats alongside his land on a tidal stretch of the Grand Canal. Although he had no common law right to permanently moor the boats, he had committed no actionable wrong in doing so, and they were therefore not moored ‘without lawful authority’ within the meaning of the British Waterways Act 1983. This judgment is an interesting and important endorsement of the principle in English law that everything is permitted except what is expressly forbidden.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 15th February 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

In the public interest – Speech by Mr Justice Foskett

In the public interest (PDF)

Speech by Mr Justice Foskett

The ‘Disciplinary Conference’, 8th February 2013

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Butler-Sloss condemns advice cuts – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 31st, 2013 in judges, law centres, legal aid, litigants in person, news by sally

“Removing funding for a service that helps litigants in person on the day wide-ranging legal aid cuts take effect will create ‘absolute disarray’ in the courts, a former head of the family division has warned.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 30th January 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Listen carefully: jeopardising legal advice services is reckless – The Guardian

Posted January 23rd, 2013 in budgets, legal aid, litigants in person, news by sally

“Cuts to legal aid and grants means courts will be dealing with unprecedented number of self-represented litigants.”

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd January 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Judiciary publishes guide for self-represented litigants – Judiciary of England and Wales

Posted January 14th, 2013 in judiciary, litigants in person, press releases by tracey

“A guide for self-represented litigants making applications to the Interim Applications Court of the Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court has been published by the judiciary today (Friday 11 January).”

Full press release

Judiciary of England and Wales, 11th January 2013

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

A Second Bite at the Cherry..? Applying for a Rehearing in Family Proceedings – Family Law Week

Posted January 9th, 2013 in appeals, family courts, legal aid, litigants in person, news by sally

“Rodney Noon, solicitor, looks at the scope for bringing a family law case back before the first instance court and asking it to ‘think again’.”

Full story

Family Law Week, 8th January 2013

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

DIY divorces set to surge as legal aid vanishes – The Independent

Posted January 7th, 2013 in budgets, dispute resolution, divorce, legal aid, litigants in person, news by sally

“On the eve of ‘D-Day’ – that’s Divorce Day, the first Monday back to work after the festive period, when warring couples are more likely to register for a divorce – lawyers warn that tens of thousands of people could find splitting up harder and more costly this year. And the number of those turning to ‘DIY divorce kits’ is expected to surge.”

Full story

The Independent, 6th January 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

DIY Law – BBC Law in Action

“Joshua Rozenberg looks at DIY law – what it is like to represent yourself as a litigant in person – and whether the CPS should be allowed to shut down private prosecutions.”

Listen

BBC Law in Action, 30th October 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Litigant in person ‘not entitled to indulgence’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 18th, 2012 in courts, litigants in person, mental health, news by sally

“The Court of Appeal has told a self-represented litigant that his lack of legal understanding does not entitle him to ‘extra indulgence’.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 18th October 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Spending cuts on legal services will deny ‘effective access’ to justice, says leading barrister – The Independent

Posted October 9th, 2012 in civil justice, criminal justice, legal aid, litigants in person, news by sally

“Many people will be denied ‘effective access’ to justice as a result of Government spending cuts on legal services, according to a leading barrister.”

Full story

The Independent, 9th October 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Transcript of the Lord Chief Justice’s Annual Press Conference 2012 – Judiciary of England and Wales

“The Lord Chief Justice held his annual press conference on Thursday 27th September 2012 at the Royal Courts of Justice.”

Full transcript

Judiciary of England and Wales, 27th September 2012

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Family lawyers face turbulent year ahead – Law Society’s Gazette

“Family law’s commercial and legal landscape is changing dramatically with the legal aid reforms, the continuing impact of the recession, competition from ABSs and potential legislative changes affecting everyone from the richest to the poorest.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 20th September 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Complaints hike follows surge in unrepresented litigants – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 17th, 2012 in barristers, complaints, litigants in person, news by sally

“An increase in litigants in person has been cited as the reason for a sharp spike in complaints against barristers alleging discrimination.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 14th September 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Families ‘hit by legal aid plans’ – BBC News

“Thousands of vulnerable people facing family breakdown could end up without legal representation because of planned changes to legal aid, according to a legal group.”

Full story

BBC News, 21st April 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk