Law and Rights
Law and Lawyers is 4 years old this week (on 14th January). It has been interesting to look back at the post of the 3rd birthday where concern was expressed about what were then impending changes to legal aid. They are in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 and were implemented on 1st April 2013. This has minimised the availability of civil legal aid and removed it altogether from some important areas.
As expected, criminal legal aid has also come under attack from the government and the fight to secure as much legal aid in this area as possible continues. Representation before the courts for those accused of crime is a basic, fundamental requirement of a true democracy. If you are concerned about the way we are heading, I would urge you to sign the petition at Justice Alliance petition to save access to Justice.
The Steve Cornforth blog takes a look at the impact that cuts are likely to have on the diversity of the legal profession. A likely outcome is a profession beyond the reach of all but those from very wealthy backgrounds. Furthermore, the Birmingham Law Society has said that many firms of solicitor's firms will cease to be viable in the event that the cuts go ahead. This is a tragic picture which will be reflected throughout the country. I was also struck by this tweet:
The other very pervasive theme of the past 12 months has been the system of protection for human rights in this country. Yet again, the attack has come from within the government but certain judges have chosen to join in the chorus. There is no doubt that this will be a major topic for quite some time to come. It is worthy of note that the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed the view that austerity measures across Europe have undermined human rights - see Council of Europe
?Many governments in Europe imposing austerity measures have forgotten about their human rights obligations, especially the social and economic rights of the most vulnerable, the need to ensure access to justice, and the right to equal treatment. Regrettably, international lenders have also neglected to incorporate human rights considerations into many of their assistance programmes,? said today Nils Mui?nieks, Commissioner for Human Rights, while releasing a research paper about the impact of the economic crisis on the protection of human rights."
In September, the Scottish referendum on independence will be held. In the event of a YES vote, there will be some major and difficult constitutional questions ahead. I do not think that a divorce is desirable and would prefer to have seen a federal solution to this question but those are only personal views and the idea of a federation has found little traction in political circles even though the Westminster Parliament has created many successful federations throughout history (e.g. Australia, Canada).
I hope to be able to follow developments within our legal system and other interesting stories for some time to come. There will be much to consider and write about. The blog hopes to remain true to its original purposes: to discuss, inform, explain but never to dictate and will continue to try to Speak for Fairness - (Pro Aequitate Dicere).
- Speech By The Secretary Of State For Justice ~ Brief Comment
Michael Gove - appointed after the general election as Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor - has delivered his first major policy speech - What does a one nation justice policy look like. It is a speech with many fine-sounding, flowing...
- A Few Items Of Interest ....
Ladybower Reservoir December 2014 Advocacy: Law students and those starting a career in advocacy would do well the read this article by Nigel Pascoe QC - The Art of Cross Examination. Age and the law: In this link, Dan Bunting contrasts the age of consent...
- A Few Items Of Interest ...
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...
- Criminal Bar Association Votes No
Update 10th April: Message from the Chairman of the Criminal Bar Association As reported in my earlier post (A pivotal decision for the criminal bar), members of the Criminal Bar Association were balloted on the following motion: ?Do you wish...
- Legal Aid ~ Consultation Closes 4th June
Under government proposals, criminal legal aid will be severely curtailed - Money, money, money ... just where is Justice heading?. and 'The real 'scumbag criminal' is still free ~ A matter at democracy's heart'. The government's...
Law and Rights
Four years old this week ~ Pro Aequitate Dicere
As expected, criminal legal aid has also come under attack from the government and the fight to secure as much legal aid in this area as possible continues. Representation before the courts for those accused of crime is a basic, fundamental requirement of a true democracy. If you are concerned about the way we are heading, I would urge you to sign the petition at Justice Alliance petition to save access to Justice.
The Steve Cornforth blog takes a look at the impact that cuts are likely to have on the diversity of the legal profession. A likely outcome is a profession beyond the reach of all but those from very wealthy backgrounds. Furthermore, the Birmingham Law Society has said that many firms of solicitor's firms will cease to be viable in the event that the cuts go ahead. This is a tragic picture which will be reflected throughout the country. I was also struck by this tweet:
Tories and Lib Dems combine to vote away Legal Aid for cases which challenge Government http://t.co/D355WaS8WP
? Andy Slaughter MP (@hammersmithandy) January 17, 2014The other very pervasive theme of the past 12 months has been the system of protection for human rights in this country. Yet again, the attack has come from within the government but certain judges have chosen to join in the chorus. There is no doubt that this will be a major topic for quite some time to come. It is worthy of note that the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed the view that austerity measures across Europe have undermined human rights - see Council of Europe
?Many governments in Europe imposing austerity measures have forgotten about their human rights obligations, especially the social and economic rights of the most vulnerable, the need to ensure access to justice, and the right to equal treatment. Regrettably, international lenders have also neglected to incorporate human rights considerations into many of their assistance programmes,? said today Nils Mui?nieks, Commissioner for Human Rights, while releasing a research paper about the impact of the economic crisis on the protection of human rights."
In September, the Scottish referendum on independence will be held. In the event of a YES vote, there will be some major and difficult constitutional questions ahead. I do not think that a divorce is desirable and would prefer to have seen a federal solution to this question but those are only personal views and the idea of a federation has found little traction in political circles even though the Westminster Parliament has created many successful federations throughout history (e.g. Australia, Canada).
I hope to be able to follow developments within our legal system and other interesting stories for some time to come. There will be much to consider and write about. The blog hopes to remain true to its original purposes: to discuss, inform, explain but never to dictate and will continue to try to Speak for Fairness - (Pro Aequitate Dicere).
- Speech By The Secretary Of State For Justice ~ Brief Comment
Michael Gove - appointed after the general election as Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor - has delivered his first major policy speech - What does a one nation justice policy look like. It is a speech with many fine-sounding, flowing...
- A Few Items Of Interest ....
Ladybower Reservoir December 2014 Advocacy: Law students and those starting a career in advocacy would do well the read this article by Nigel Pascoe QC - The Art of Cross Examination. Age and the law: In this link, Dan Bunting contrasts the age of consent...
- A Few Items Of Interest ...
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...
- Criminal Bar Association Votes No
Update 10th April: Message from the Chairman of the Criminal Bar Association As reported in my earlier post (A pivotal decision for the criminal bar), members of the Criminal Bar Association were balloted on the following motion: ?Do you wish...
- Legal Aid ~ Consultation Closes 4th June
Under government proposals, criminal legal aid will be severely curtailed - Money, money, money ... just where is Justice heading?. and 'The real 'scumbag criminal' is still free ~ A matter at democracy's heart'. The government's...