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
Legal aid news - March 2018
Post date: 17th of April 2018Welcome to our update of the latest legal aid and access to justice news from March 2018.
YLAL Social Mobility Report: On 13 March, we launched our new social mobility report – “Social Mobility in a Time of Austerity”. The report was launched online and at 6 events throughout the country in Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool, London, Manchester and Sheffield.
The report identifies three key issues with social mobility in the legal aid sector:
Read more...How To... Meet With Your MP
Post date: 15th of April 2018YLAL has prepared a document for its members on How to meet with your MP, which is attached.
Thanks to YLAL's Heather Thomas and Maia Lask.
Read more...Statement on AGFS action
Post date: 29th of March 2018YLAL statement on direct action in protest against changes to the Advocates' Graduated Fee Scheme (AGFS)
Young Legal Aid Lawyers today (29 March 2018) issues the attached statement, in solidarity with colleagues who have made the difficult decison to take direct action in response to changes to the way in which criminal legal aid work by advocates is remunerated under the Advocates' Graduated Fee Scheme (AGFS).
Read more...Legal aid news - February 2018
Post date: 26th of March 2018Welcome to our update of the latest legal aid and access to justice news from February 2018.
Legal aid for prisoners: On 21 February, legal aid was reinstated for 3 key areas of prison law: pre-tariff reviews, Category A reviews and challenges to decisions regarding placements in a close supervision centres.
Read more...APPG on Legal Aid - 07.03.2018
Post date: 26th of March 2018APPG on Legal Aid: Early Advice
Lord Low on the Low Commission
Lord Low reported on the findings of the Low Commission (reports published in January 2014 and March 2015 can be found here: https://www.lowcommission.org.uk/) that the advice deficit has widened significantly and that this is not, therefore, an issue that the government can afford to ignore.
Read more...2017: Year in Review
Post date: 18th of March 20182017 was another busy year in politics, law and current affairs. We have rounded up all of the most important stories from our regular legal aid news updates throughout 2017.
January
Read more...
Litigants in Person - The Harsh Reality of Facing the Court System Alone
Post date: 1st of March 2018Case Study: Litigants in person - facing the court system alone
Today I attend court with a mother in a case where the father is seeking a child arrangement order to have contact with their children. We first meet at the Personal Support Unit office where I am informed of the details of the case so far. The stage we are at today is the final hearing. As volunteers are not assigned to cases just individual hearings, the client expresses how exhausting it is to explain and relive emotions to a new volunteer at every hearing.
Read more...Legal aid news - January 2018
Post date: 21st of February 2018Welcome to our update of the latest legal aid and access to justice news from January 2018.
David Gauke’s appointment as the Lord Chancellor: On 8 January 2018, following Theresa May’s cabinet reshuffle, it was announced that former solicitor, David Gauke MP, would be the new Lord Chancellor. He became the sixth Lord Chancellor in six years, and the first solicitor to be appointed to the post.
Read more...APPG on Legal Aid - 07.02.2018
Post date: 11th of February 2018APPG on Legal Aid: Legal Aid and Inquests, New Domestic Violence Regulations and Prison Law reforms
Introduction by Andy Slaughter MP for Hammersmith, vice president of the APPG on Legal Aid.
Read more...