All Legal aid and access to justice articles – Page 98
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OpinionPicking at the threads of justice
Op Cotton ruling removes the notion of the independent bar for complex cases, replacing it with an inadequate nationalised public defender.
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NewsJR proceedings begin over legal aid cuts
The two main criminal solicitor groups launch challenge to the government’s decision to press ahead with reforms.
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NewsMoJ’s ‘high-risk’ projects on the rise
The number of high-risk projects in the ministry has doubled since last year – but legal aid reform is on track.
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NewsCall the PDS, regulator tells solicitors caught in protest
The SRA has issued guidance to solicitors struggling to find advocates in cases affected by the bar’s refusal to take them.
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NewsFailure to fund child’s expert report unlawful
The Court of Appeal ruled the LAA was wrong not to pay the full costs of a report in case where only the child and not the parents were publicly funded.
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NewsCourt of Appeal overturns stay in case hit by bar boycott
The trial against five defendants charged with fraud will continue after the court overturned the stay.
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News
MoJ claims civil courts not damaged by austerity
Senior judges said last week unmeritorious claims are on the rise in the wake of LASPO.
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NewsGrayling head-hunts QCs to save fraud trials
Recruitment drive for the Public Defender Service used as an ‘emergency measure’ following protests against fee cuts.
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OpinionPDS is a false economy
Why is the government willing to pay more for ‘public’ advocates than it is for the independent bar?
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NewsLeading judges in damning attack on civil aid cuts
Worthy cases dropped and vulnerable litigants left to fend for themselves, judiciary reports.
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NewsVHCC appeal allows Grayling’s intervention
Financial Conduct Authority argues that stay in case hit by VHCC protest should be reversed.
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NewsGrayling to be represented at VHCC protest appeal
Lord chancellor to be represented as an interested party at the challenge to the stay of a fraud case following aid cuts protest.
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NewsPDS accused of trying to break strike action
Some solicitors have attended to ‘tout’ for cases from defendants left unrepresented due to protest actions, it is claimed.
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ProfileActing for defendant in fraud trial that collapsed
Lee Adams represented one of the defendants in ‘Operation Cotton’ case, which was stayed after counsel could not be found.
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NewsEx-Stobart director eyes legal aid work
Trevor Howarth once described traditional legal aid firms as ‘wounded animals waiting to die’.
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OpinionTime to heed legal aid call
HHJ Leonard’s decision in ‘Operation Cotton’ must bring the government to its senses.
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News
Appeal over Op Cotton set for tomorrow
Case stayed at Southwark Crown Court as none of the defendants was represented.
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NewsLAA threat over aid protest
The agency has given firms five days to provide evidence of steps taken to secure advocates in very high cost cases affected by the bar’s action.
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NewsGrayling urged to end CCTV evidence anomaly
The Law Society has called for fee regulations to be updated to cover payment for viewing CCTV evidence.
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Opinion
Dependants wrongly assessed
Allowances should be assessed on a monthly, not weekly, basis. Clients could be entitled to legal aid without knowing it.