Law and Rights
A poll conducted for the Criminal Law Solicitor's Association has concluded that the British public believes that legal aid should be a right and not a benefit see Solicitors Journal. The CLSA plans to hold a rally in Westminster on 23rd April to seek to make the governmental attack on legal aid more of an election issue.
A Guardian animation - Superheroes battling for legal aid - also highlights the parlous state of legal aid provision following the implementation of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 ( LASPO).
Cuts to legal aid have been implemented under the mantra of the need to save money in times of austerity. Whilst access to justice - at reasonable cost - ought to be a fundamental democratic right, it is a great sadness that there seems to be no Party with a chance of being in government that is willing to return to anything like the pre-LASPO arrangements.
The lack of legal aid is compounded by the recent imposition of considerable court fees - see Court fee increases approved (6th March) and Criminal Court Charges (4th April).
"EUROPE" is one of the election issues and, in the area of criminal law, there are many "Euro-myths". In a video, Professor John R Spencer of Cambridge University tackles some of the myths - Is EU criminal law a threat to British justice?
- 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...
- Justice Armageddon ~ The Dire State Of Access To Justice After 4 Years Of The Coalition Government
In recent weeks a considerable number of blogs have expressed huge concern at the damage being done to access to justice by the various "justice" policies of the coalition government. Whilst it is hardly surprising that the government has sought...
- Four Years Old This Week ~ Pro Aequitate Dicere
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...
- Laspo 2012 ~ Some Materials
Updated 9th March 2013 The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) is gradually being brought into force. LASPO is one of 18 Public General Acts enacted in 2012. On top of that, 3001 Statutory Instruments have...
Law and Rights
The fight for access to Justice
A Guardian animation - Superheroes battling for legal aid - also highlights the parlous state of legal aid provision following the implementation of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 ( LASPO).
Cuts to legal aid have been implemented under the mantra of the need to save money in times of austerity. Whilst access to justice - at reasonable cost - ought to be a fundamental democratic right, it is a great sadness that there seems to be no Party with a chance of being in government that is willing to return to anything like the pre-LASPO arrangements.
The lack of legal aid is compounded by the recent imposition of considerable court fees - see Court fee increases approved (6th March) and Criminal Court Charges (4th April).
"EUROPE" is one of the election issues and, in the area of criminal law, there are many "Euro-myths". In a video, Professor John R Spencer of Cambridge University tackles some of the myths - Is EU criminal law a threat to British justice?
- 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...
- Justice Armageddon ~ The Dire State Of Access To Justice After 4 Years Of The Coalition Government
In recent weeks a considerable number of blogs have expressed huge concern at the damage being done to access to justice by the various "justice" policies of the coalition government. Whilst it is hardly surprising that the government has sought...
- Four Years Old This Week ~ Pro Aequitate Dicere
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...
- Laspo 2012 ~ Some Materials
Updated 9th March 2013 The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) is gradually being brought into force. LASPO is one of 18 Public General Acts enacted in 2012. On top of that, 3001 Statutory Instruments have...