Law and Rights
Update - 3rd July: The session is over - Watch it Here.
Update 4th July: Solicitors Journal Fresh consultation to be launched in September after 'detailed talks' with Law Society
Chris Grayling, the justice secretary, put the Law Society in the driving seat on the criminal legal aid cuts while repeatedly attacking barristers and the Bar at ... meeting of the justice select committee. The only other concession was to exempt babies under 12 months old from the proposed 'residence test.'
Update 5th July: Uncorrected transcript of oral evidence- Parliament
The House of Commons Justice Committee meets today to question the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor (Mr Chris Grayling MP) about the proposals on Transforming Legal Aid. As published, the particular focus of this session is to be Price Competitive Tendering (PCT).
The Committee has 12 members including its Chairman Sir Alan Beith MP (Liberal Democrat). The political party make up of the committee is 1 Liberal Democrat, 5 Conservative, 5 Labour and 1 Plaid Cymru. Some of the Justice Committee members spoke in the recent backbench debate on legal aid .
As indicated
in the 2nd July post on this blog, there appears to have been a shift in the Secretary of State's position on Price Competitive Tendering. Thus, the committee might wish to know exactly what Mr Grayling's current position is.
On 4th June, links to over 70 responses to the government's proposals were collated on this blog - Responses to Transforming Legal Aid. According to Jeremy Wright MP in the legal aid debate, there were in the region of 16000 responses.
On 1st July, the Law Society published an alternative proposal which does not involve PCT. This proposal seeks to retain choice; provide certainty and facilitate efficiency - see
Whether the Law Society's proposal proves to be a lifeline to the politically ambitious Mr Grayling remains to be seen. The impact of the Law Society scheme on smaller solicitor's practices - usually located on your average 'high street' - has to be carefully analysed.
Other links:
See also Gemma's blog - Why the Law Society proposed alternatives
Garden Court Law - The absurdity of Mr Grayling's residence test
Open Democracy - Who is that man in the Lord Chancellor's seat?
Legal Aid Changes
Uncorrected transcript of oral evidence
- The Lincoln's Inn 'legal Aid Rally'
Nigel Lithman QC is the present Chairman of the Criminal Bar Association. In his 'Monday Message' he reports about a Rally at Lincoln's Inn last Saturday. The meeting was attended by barristers from all over the country. ...
- Legal Aid ~ Westminster Hall Debate ~ Inefficiency And Waste
Chris Grayling MPTransforming legal aid: Price Competitive Tendering (or PCT) was a central plank in the government's Transforming Legal Aid proposals. I say 'was' because it looks as though it has been dropped by the Secretary of State...
- European Convention At 60 ~ Legal Aid
Update 5th September - link to 4th September legal aid debate The European Convention: ?Human rights are inscribed in the hearts of people; they were there long before lawmakers drafted their first proclamation. Mary Robinson, Former United Nations High...
- Yuppy, Beady-eyed Crowds; Fat Cats And Moggies! Wednesday Thoughts.
Updates 16th June *** Mail on Sunday corrects daily's legal aid sums *** So that league table of supposed greed is selective bunk. *** Please sign the e-petition on Legal Aid The government's purge of legal aid crosses the border into authoritarianism...
- Act Now To Try To Stop 'justice' Being Only For The Rich And Powerful
*** Please sign the e-petition on Legal Aid - the aim is to try to persuade Parliament to debate the Ministry of Justice plans to slash legal aid. Why should any Minister be allowed to seriously alter the rights of the British citizen just by stroke...
Law and Rights
The Justice Committee ~ Hearing of 3rd July 2013 ~ Legal Aid
Update 4th July: Solicitors Journal Fresh consultation to be launched in September after 'detailed talks' with Law Society
Chris Grayling, the justice secretary, put the Law Society in the driving seat on the criminal legal aid cuts while repeatedly attacking barristers and the Bar at ... meeting of the justice select committee. The only other concession was to exempt babies under 12 months old from the proposed 'residence test.'
Update 5th July: Uncorrected transcript of oral evidence- Parliament
The House of Commons Justice Committee meets today to question the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor (Mr Chris Grayling MP) about the proposals on Transforming Legal Aid. As published, the particular focus of this session is to be Price Competitive Tendering (PCT).
The Committee has 12 members including its Chairman Sir Alan Beith MP (Liberal Democrat). The political party make up of the committee is 1 Liberal Democrat, 5 Conservative, 5 Labour and 1 Plaid Cymru. Some of the Justice Committee members spoke in the recent backbench debate on legal aid .
As indicated
in the 2nd July post on this blog, there appears to have been a shift in the Secretary of State's position on Price Competitive Tendering. Thus, the committee might wish to know exactly what Mr Grayling's current position is.
On 4th June, links to over 70 responses to the government's proposals were collated on this blog - Responses to Transforming Legal Aid. According to Jeremy Wright MP in the legal aid debate, there were in the region of 16000 responses.
On 1st July, the Law Society published an alternative proposal which does not involve PCT. This proposal seeks to retain choice; provide certainty and facilitate efficiency - see
- Law Society alternative to price competitive tendering (PDF 518kb)
Whether the Law Society's proposal proves to be a lifeline to the politically ambitious Mr Grayling remains to be seen. The impact of the Law Society scheme on smaller solicitor's practices - usually located on your average 'high street' - has to be carefully analysed.
Other links:
See also Gemma's blog - Why the Law Society proposed alternatives
Garden Court Law - The absurdity of Mr Grayling's residence test
Open Democracy - Who is that man in the Lord Chancellor's seat?
Legal Aid Changes
Uncorrected transcript of oral evidence
- The Lincoln's Inn 'legal Aid Rally'
Nigel Lithman QC is the present Chairman of the Criminal Bar Association. In his 'Monday Message' he reports about a Rally at Lincoln's Inn last Saturday. The meeting was attended by barristers from all over the country. ...
- Legal Aid ~ Westminster Hall Debate ~ Inefficiency And Waste
Chris Grayling MPTransforming legal aid: Price Competitive Tendering (or PCT) was a central plank in the government's Transforming Legal Aid proposals. I say 'was' because it looks as though it has been dropped by the Secretary of State...
- European Convention At 60 ~ Legal Aid
Update 5th September - link to 4th September legal aid debate The European Convention: ?Human rights are inscribed in the hearts of people; they were there long before lawmakers drafted their first proclamation. Mary Robinson, Former United Nations High...
- Yuppy, Beady-eyed Crowds; Fat Cats And Moggies! Wednesday Thoughts.
Updates 16th June *** Mail on Sunday corrects daily's legal aid sums *** So that league table of supposed greed is selective bunk. *** Please sign the e-petition on Legal Aid The government's purge of legal aid crosses the border into authoritarianism...
- Act Now To Try To Stop 'justice' Being Only For The Rich And Powerful
*** Please sign the e-petition on Legal Aid - the aim is to try to persuade Parliament to debate the Ministry of Justice plans to slash legal aid. Why should any Minister be allowed to seriously alter the rights of the British citizen just by stroke...