Legal Aid

Articles

6 Jul 2015

Infographic: Legal aid by the numbers

Ministry of Justice: Legal aid statistics in England and Wales January to March 2015 The 'Legal Aid Statistics in England and Wales January to March 2015' from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) show that in the two years following the enactment of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO), the number of new matter starts has fallen year-on-year. Alistair MacDonald QC, chairman of the Bar Council, said: 'These figures show access to justice is not improving. Even the few who are still eligible for legal aid are not getting the help they deserve. Clearly more needs to be done to ensure that these people, who are among the most vulnerable in society, are aware that help is available. 'LASPO removed legal aid from hundreds of thousands of people per year in one fell swoop. The year after it was introduced, over 400,000 fewer people accessed legal help to assist with employment, housing, welfare, family or other legal problems compared with the year before. [The] figures show the situation has worsened.'

3 Jul 2015

Changes to confiscation law: part two

David Winch discusses amendments to confiscation law made by recent legislation, including changes to restraint orders and the new power to make compliance orders

30 Jun 2015

Magna Carta stands for justice - not further cuts

Government reforms to legal aid are penalising successful defences, writes Gemma Blythe

26 Jun 2015

Work for free? The legal profession needs to channel its inner Taylor Swift

Supermarkets aren't obliged to dispense free produce from their back doors

26 Jun 2015

'Big Friendly Giant' firms back direct action over legal aid cuts

The government's 'bone-headed policies' are unworkable for all firms regardless of size, says CLSA

26 Jun 2015

The lawyers are revolting!

Will solicitors and barristers join forces in industrial action after Gove protects advocacy fees from cuts?

24 Jun 2015

Citizens Advice agrees with Gove that victims should be empowered in courts

Charity applauds Gove's initiatives to make justice system victim and witness responsive

23 Jun 2015

Gove's speech is a 'whitewash' of government failures

Criminal Law Solicitors' Association highly critical of Lord Chancellor's maiden speech while Bar Council laps up Michael Gove's praise for the independent Bar