Articles Archive
Below are all our previously published articles and news items - blog posts will be included here too.
There are also 2 wordpress blog sites which we previously used and for whom content is still available, although they are not currently being updated:
View from the Gravy Train
Thanks 2 Legal Aid
Timetable for BVT
Post date: 5th of March 2013The Government has today announced its proposed timetable for the introduction of best value tendering in criminal legal aid. In a written statement to the House of Commons Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said:
Read more...March meeting - venue change
Post date: 2nd of March 2013Please note, the next London YLAL meeting will take place at 1830 on 13 March 2013 at Garden Court Chambers and not at our usual venue of Doughty Street. Details of how to get to Garden Court can be found here.
Read more...Devolved powers for JR axed
Post date: 2nd of March 2013The Ministry of Justice have announced that from 1 April 2013 devolved powers (which will become known as “delegated functions”) will no longer be exercisable for the majority of judicial review work. The announcement, available at http://www.justice.gov.uk/legal-aid/newslatest-updates/civil-news/jr-proceedings-funding-change, states:
Providers will need to seek prior approval for judicial review work
Read more...Next APPG - 13 Feb 2013
Post date: 6th of February 2013The next meeting of the All-Party Group on Legal Aid meeting will be held on Wednesday 13 February at 4pm – 5.30pm in Committee Room 9 at the House of Commons. The theme will be “Life after the legal aid cuts – social welfare law”. Speakers include Lord Low of Dalston, Lord Bach, Margie Butler (Mary Ward Legal Centre), James Sandbach (Citizens Advice), Giles Peaker (Anthony Gold Solicitors) and Patrick Torsney (creator of Ilegal.org.uk).
Read more...Judicial Review - YLAL response
Post date: 23rd of January 2013The government has issued a consultation paper proposing changes to judicial review procedure, responses to which must be submitted by 24 January 2013. Although initially launched with reference to planning law, there are many proposed changes that would drastically affect many aspects of public law challenges. This includes the proposal to change the time limit for “continuing breach cases” to run from the very start of the breach.
LASPO regs (again)
Post date: 17th of January 2013The Government has laid new regulations under the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders (LASPO) Act 2012. The Regulations introduce the new procedure that decision-makers will need to follow when granting legal aid to clients. We are very concerned in particular about two key issues.
Telephone gateway
Read more...APPG meeting 22 Jan
Post date: 17th of January 2013There will be a meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group on legal aid on Tuesday 22 January at 5.15pm at the House of Commons. The legal aid minister, Lord McNally has agreed to address the meeting, which will cover a broad range of legal aid and access to justice issues.
Read more...LSC will end the CLS grant
Post date: 16th of January 2013The Legal Services Commission (LSC) consulted in 2012 on the future of CLS grants which have previously been awarded to charities and the NFP sector.
They have decided to end the grants, and therefore no new grants will be given after March 2013. This will negatively impact charities that will also be affected by LASPO further reducing access to justice.
The LSC response to the consultation responses can be read here
Read more...YLAL midlands - can you help?
Post date: 1st of January 2013Some of our members are looking to set up a group in the midlands. We plan on having meetings in Birmingham. Can you help?
We are keen to hear from anyone in the local area who would like to be involved, whether you are studying or already in practice.
To find out more please get in touch:
Read more...
LASPO Regs - Success in HoL
Post date: 5th of December 2012On 3 December 2012, the House of Lords debated two sets of regulations issued under the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO). The Civil Legal Aid (Merits Criteria) Regulations set out the criteria to be used to determine whether legal aid should be granted. The Legal Aid, Sentencing & Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (Amendment of Schedule 1) Order amends LASPO to bring certain welfare benefits cases back into scope.
Read more...