Law and Rights
A little list of items of interest ............
1. Severe cuts to legal aid have taken place in England and Wales. The impact of these cuts is certainly being felt by many people who need access to law and must now try to fight their own case amid the thicket of law or, alternatively, who must simply give up the fight against the more powerful opponent with deeper and often publicly funded pockets. In a report by the National Audit Office, the Ministry of Justice has been accused of slashing legal aid without understanding the impact of the cuts. According to the National Audit Office, the £300m cuts to legal aid ?cannot be said to have delivered better overall value for money for the taxpayer?.
but then again the cuts were, I believe, more to do with political ideology (to remove access to justice for people) rather than the economic downturn.
2. At a time when the Human Rights Act 1998 is under political attack, the British Institute of Human Rights has published - The Human Rights Act: Changing Lives. Click here and download your copy.
3. BabyBarista blog has this interview between Lord Bingham of Cornhill and Shami Chakrabarti
4. On Criminal Law and Justice, Simon Tabbush looks at options for reforming Offences against the Person. At the request of the Ministry of Justice. this topic is currently under review by the Law Commission - see earlier post.
5. Few would doubt that the statute book (i.e. the immense volume of legislation) is a mess. Amendments are piled on top of amendments and attempts by the legislature to tidy things up are rare. One method - certainly used in the past - was the enactment of a Consolidation Act to bring together in one Act all the legislation relating to some particular topic. Such Act are nowadays rare. The Will Macgregor blog suggests that there be a general power for Ministers to consolidate Acts by using Statutory Instruments instead of having to enact a Consolidation Act. An idea worthy of consideration I would have thought.
- Criminal Legal Aid
The coalition government (2010-15) reduced considerably the provision of legal aid for civil cases. The Conservative government is pressing ahead with plans - put together by the coalition government - to reduce fees payable to solicitors...
- Happy New Year 2015
Here's wishing all readers a very Happy New Year 2015. As 2014 petered out I could not help but think that the year saw the continuation of the relentless attack by the elected government on access to justice for the average citizen. The severe...
- The (second) Legal Aid Consultation ~ Some Responses
Earlier post - 5th September 2013 - Transforming legal aid ~ a new consultation ~ the fight for fairness is not over. Following on from the first consultation (here), the Ministry of Justice consulted on modified proposals which may be read HERE. ...
- A Tragedy - Laspo Part 1
The Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill received Royal assent and is now, therefore, the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012. Part 1 of the Act - dealing with legal aid provision - is, in my view, a disgrace....
- "rights" Without Access To Justice Are Not Rights At All
Updated Recently Lord Pannick said in a debate in the House of Lords: ?There are countries where the Government win all their cases in court ? but they are not places in which any of us would wish to live.? Well, buckle up people, because the legal aid...
Law and Rights
A few items of interest ...
1. Severe cuts to legal aid have taken place in England and Wales. The impact of these cuts is certainly being felt by many people who need access to law and must now try to fight their own case amid the thicket of law or, alternatively, who must simply give up the fight against the more powerful opponent with deeper and often publicly funded pockets. In a report by the National Audit Office, the Ministry of Justice has been accused of slashing legal aid without understanding the impact of the cuts. According to the National Audit Office, the £300m cuts to legal aid ?cannot be said to have delivered better overall value for money for the taxpayer?.
- Read the full report here
but then again the cuts were, I believe, more to do with political ideology (to remove access to justice for people) rather than the economic downturn.
2. At a time when the Human Rights Act 1998 is under political attack, the British Institute of Human Rights has published - The Human Rights Act: Changing Lives. Click here and download your copy.
3. BabyBarista blog has this interview between Lord Bingham of Cornhill and Shami Chakrabarti
4. On Criminal Law and Justice, Simon Tabbush looks at options for reforming Offences against the Person. At the request of the Ministry of Justice. this topic is currently under review by the Law Commission - see earlier post.
5. Few would doubt that the statute book (i.e. the immense volume of legislation) is a mess. Amendments are piled on top of amendments and attempts by the legislature to tidy things up are rare. One method - certainly used in the past - was the enactment of a Consolidation Act to bring together in one Act all the legislation relating to some particular topic. Such Act are nowadays rare. The Will Macgregor blog suggests that there be a general power for Ministers to consolidate Acts by using Statutory Instruments instead of having to enact a Consolidation Act. An idea worthy of consideration I would have thought.
- Criminal Legal Aid
The coalition government (2010-15) reduced considerably the provision of legal aid for civil cases. The Conservative government is pressing ahead with plans - put together by the coalition government - to reduce fees payable to solicitors...
- Happy New Year 2015
Here's wishing all readers a very Happy New Year 2015. As 2014 petered out I could not help but think that the year saw the continuation of the relentless attack by the elected government on access to justice for the average citizen. The severe...
- The (second) Legal Aid Consultation ~ Some Responses
Earlier post - 5th September 2013 - Transforming legal aid ~ a new consultation ~ the fight for fairness is not over. Following on from the first consultation (here), the Ministry of Justice consulted on modified proposals which may be read HERE. ...
- A Tragedy - Laspo Part 1
The Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill received Royal assent and is now, therefore, the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012. Part 1 of the Act - dealing with legal aid provision - is, in my view, a disgrace....
- "rights" Without Access To Justice Are Not Rights At All
Updated Recently Lord Pannick said in a debate in the House of Lords: ?There are countries where the Government win all their cases in court ? but they are not places in which any of us would wish to live.? Well, buckle up people, because the legal aid...