JR looms as MoJ admits: new whiplash rules “could lead to misunderstanding” – Litigation Futures

‘The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has admitted that the new rules for whiplash claims, introduced on 1 October this year, “could in practice lead to some misunderstanding” and may have to be amended.’

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Litigation Futures, 14th November 2014

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Judge attacks Chris Grayling for failing to provide prisoners with healthy sex courses – Daily Telegraph

‘High Court judge says the Justice Secretary is failing in his duty to provide the course high-risk prisoners need to take before they are considered for release.’

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Daily Telegraph, 3rd November 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Grayling ‘has no understanding of his role’ – Falconer – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Former lord chancellor Lord Falconer has attacked successor Chris Grayling for failing to view his commitment to the rule of law as different to that of any other government minister.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 22nd October 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Show us your evidence, Society tells MoJ consultation – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Law Society has urged the Ministry of Justice to release for formal consultation a report on the criminal legal aid market which casts doubt on its controversial reform proposals.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 14th October 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Open Consultation – Transforming legal aid: crime duty contracts – Ministry of Justice

Posted September 29th, 2014 in consultations, contracts, Law Society, legal aid, Ministry of Justice, solicitors by tracey

‘A consultation on reports undertaken by Otterburn Legal Consulting and KPMG in relation to the proposed duty work contracts for criminal legal aid services.’

Full consultation

Ministry of Justice, 24th September

Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Child offender tagging system ‘not working’ – BBC News

‘A tagging programme for child offenders is not working and results in excessive punishment, a charity has warned.’

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BBC News, 29th September 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Prison book restriction ‘harms studying’ – BBC News

Posted September 24th, 2014 in education, libraries, Ministry of Justice, news, prison officers, prisons by sally

‘Restrictions on the number of books prisoners in England and Wales can have in their cells is inhibiting inmates’ ability to learn, a charity warns.’

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BBC News, 24th September 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ministry of Justice fined over prison data loss – BBC News

Posted August 26th, 2014 in data protection, fines, Ministry of Justice, news, prisons by tracey

‘The Ministry of Justice has been fined £180,000 for “serious failings” in the handling of confidential data.’

Full story

BBC News, 26th August 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

APIL anger over discount rate delay – Litigtion Futures

Posted August 26th, 2014 in damages, delay, Ministry of Justice, news, personal injuries by tracey

‘The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) has reacted angrily to confirmation from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) of a further delay to the review of the discount rate for personal injury cases.’

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Litigtation Futures, 26th August 2014

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Top judge authorises court to cover legal aid in challenge to government – The Guardian

‘One of the most senior judges in England and Wales has thrown down a direct challenge to the government over legal aid by suggesting courts spend money in defiance of Ministry of Justice cuts to ensure justice is done.’

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The Guardian, 6th August 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Grayling agrees legal aid truce with barristers over complex fraud trials – The Guardian

Posted July 8th, 2014 in barristers, costs, fees, legal aid, Ministry of Justice, news, trials by tracey

‘Barristers and the justice secretary, Chris Grayling, have agreed a temporary truce in a dispute that threatened to halt all complex fraud trials. Amid taunts of a government climbdown, the Ministry of Justice has enforced a 30% cut in legal aid fees for what are known as Very High Cost Cases (VHCC) but agreed to make more generous payments at an earlier stage in court proceedings.’

Full story

The Guardian, 8th July 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Practitioner bodies berate ‘face-saving’ bar deal – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 8th, 2014 in barristers, fees, legal aid, Ministry of Justice, news, solicitors by tracey

‘The “backroom” deal agreed by the Ministry of Justice to end the VHCC fee dispute with barristers has been sharply criticised for excluding solicitors who are the “backbone” of the system.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 8th July 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Law Commission: lack of government support led us to drop injury fraud project –

‘The Law Commission has said that lack of support from the Ministry of Justice was behind its decision not to include the law on fraud by personal injury victims in its latest reform programme.’


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Litigation Futures, 10th June 2014

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Legal aid cuts: justice secretary’s lawyers intervene over abandoned case – The Guardian

‘Lawyers for the justice secretary, Chris Grayling, have intervened in an emergency appeal court hearing in an attempt to resolve a dispute over legal aid cuts that has halted all complex fraud trials.’

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The Guardian, 13th May 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) becomes part of the Ministry of Justice – Ministry of Justice

‘The welfare of children will be brought closer to the family court system as key safeguarding organisation Cafcass joins the Ministry of Justice, Family Justice Minister Simon Hughes has announced.’

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Ministry of Justice, 1st April 2014

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

G4S repays UK government £108.9m after tagging scandal – BBC News

‘Troubled security firm G4S has agreed to repay £108.9m plus tax to the UK government after overcharging on contracts to tag offenders.’

Full story

BBC News, 12th March 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Court fee plans herald justice for those who can pay – senior judges – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 5th, 2014 in civil justice, costs, family courts, fees, judiciary, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

‘Senior judges have savaged government proposals for reforming court fees, warning that they are based on ‘inadequate’ and compromised research, and basic misconceptions about the way the courts operate.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 4th March 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Watchdog slams MoJ for inadequate assessment of ‘enhanced’ court fees impact – Litigation Futures

Posted January 22nd, 2014 in courts, fees, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

‘The impact assessment (IA) accompanying the Ministry of Justice’s plans to charge some court users fees in excess of cost price is not fit for purpose, a government watchdog has declared.’

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Litigation Futures, 22nd January 2014

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Court fees: proposals for reform – Ministry of Justice

Posted December 4th, 2013 in budgets, consultations, costs, courts, fees, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

‘The courts play a vital role in our democracy. They provide access to justice for those who need it, help to maintain social order and support the proper functioning of the economy.’

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Ministry of Justice, 3rd December 2013

Source: http://consult.justice.gov.uk

Timpson – Repairing Offenders’ Lives – Criminal Law and Justice Weekly

Posted December 4th, 2013 in employment, Ministry of Justice, news, prisons, recidivists, rehabilitation, statistics by sally

‘John Timpson hopes more employers will follow in his footsteps and give ex-offenders a second chance.’

Full story

Criminal Law and Justice Weekly, 29th November 2013

Source: www.criminallawandjustice.co.uk