“The biggest shake-up of divorce in a generation is in danger of creating a two-tier system, with wealthier couples benefitting far more than less well-off couples. The warning comes as a survey of more than 6,500 divorce lawyers found that new guidelines, requiring couples to look at mediation as an alternative to using courts, were largely being ignored.”
The Guardian, 22nd April 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Lesley Pendlebury Cox, Consultant with Gregory Rowcliffe Milners considers the issues arising from the increase in the number of self represented clients in family cases, its impact on family lawyers and their clients.”
Family Law Week, 13th April 2012
Source: www.familylawweek.com
“An author who tried to sue a father of three from the West Midlands over comments made in a series of unfavourable reviews on Amazon is facing a six figure legal bill after a judge struck out his case.”
The Indpendent, 4th April 2012
Source: www.independent.co.uk
“A new pilot scheme is designed to give a shot in the arm to the Court of Appeal Mediation Scheme (CAMS). It will be managed by CEDR (Centre for Dispute Resolution) which administers CAMS.”
Judiciary of England and Wales, 30th March 2012
Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk
“The prospect of a huge increase in litigants fighting their cases themselves in the face of legal aid cutbacks has prompted dire warnings from judges, magistrates, practitioners and support groups about the impact this will have on access to justice. They also fear that HM Courts and Tribunals Service’s plans to cut counter services will create chaos, particularly in the family courts, with litigants in person (LiPs) left struggling for information. While more online services may help fill the gap, support groups warn that many vulnerable LiPs do not have access to computers or know where to turn for advice.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 19th January 2012
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
“The new Civil Justice Council paper on the plight of litigants in person pulls no punches. The number of people unfortunate enough to come before the courts without a lawyer ‘will increase and with considerable scale’.”
The Guardian, 14th November 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Civil Justice Council says planned £350m reduction in legal aid budget will also result in courts struggling to manage caseloads.”
The Guardian, 11th November 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“A CJC working party has looked at how access to justice can be improved for individuals, known as litigants-in-person, who either choose not to have or cannot afford legal representation. Its report sets out a range of short and longer term practical recommendations aimed at addressing the problems faced by unrepresented litigants to help them resolve their disputes.”
Civil Justice Council, 11th November 2011
Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk/about-the-judiciary/advisory-bodies/cjc
“A father of three from the West Midlands is set to appear in the High Court tomorrow to defend himself against libel allegations over a book review he wrote on Amazon’s website last year.”
The Independent, 9th November 2011
Source: www.independent.co.uk
“Legal aid cuts will leave more people representing themselves, but may also make City firms pull their weight with pro bono work.”
The Guardian, 8th November 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Legal aid cuts aimed at saving £350m a year will result in courts being deluged by people without lawyers and will restrict access to justice, some of the country’s most senior judges have told the Guardian.”
The Guardian, 25th October 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“A coalition of lawyers and charities has attacked planned government changes to the legal aid system as ‘disturbing’ for children, women and families.”
BBC News, 24th October 2011
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
“The dire state of the economy has already led to a dramatic increase in the number of litigants in person, new figures from a voluntary organisation suggest. This is before government cuts to civil legal aid come into effect, which many solicitors predict will trigger another huge rise.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 13th October 2011
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
“The attorney general is to intervene in the controversy over cuts to family justice, according to the Times. Dominic Grieve is to tell Ken Clarke that the lord chancellor’s proposals would clog up the courts with unrepresented litigants.”
The Guardian, 28th September 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Dominic Grieve, the Attorney General, is to raise concerns about cuts in legal aid with the Cabinet.”
Daily Telegraph, 27th September 2011
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
“The House of Commons’ justice committee, chaired by Sir Alan Beith MP, predicts an increasing number of litigants in person by reason of the government’s curtailment of legal aid. We are told courts must make ‘adjustments’ to cope with this influx ‘in what are often emotionally charged cases’.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 18th August 2011
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
“Proposed changes to legal aid will remove whole areas from the scheme, leaving many people little choice but to go it alone.”
The Guardian, 6th August 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Cuts on this scale demand co-ordinated response in law education, guidance and resources, or the system won’t work.”
The Guardian, 5th August 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Victims of sexual abuse are in danger of being cross-examined in court by their tormentors unless the government makes legal aid available in such cases, according to a report by the Commons’ justice select committee.”
The Guardian, 14th July 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
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