YLAL News

Gove scraps criminal courts charge

Michael Gove scraps criminal courts charge - update by YLAL member Katie Tiley

The Justice Secretary Michael Gove announced last week that the controversial criminal courts charge, which has led to the resignations of dozens of magistrates, will be abolished from 24 December 2015.

Residence test appeal judgment

The Court of Appeal ruled this week that the proposed residence test for civil legal aid is not unlawful, overturning the a judgment by the High Court last year that the secondary legislation implementing the test was ultra vires and unjustifiably discriminatory. The judgment is available here.

Introduction to Legal Aid

On Wednesday 11 November 2015, we hosted a special 'Introduction to Legal Aid' event at Garden Court Chambers in London. We were delighted to see a packed room of about 55 people, mostly students attending their first YLAL event or meeting. The PowerPoint presentation delivered at the event by our co-chairs, Ollie and Rachel, is attached below.

Labour Legal Aid Review - report

Shortly after he was elected as leader of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn asked Lord Bach to carry out a comprehensive review of legal aid, considering civil, crime, family and social welfare law. Lord Bach will be assisted in carrying out the review by Karl Turner MP. The terms of the review are as follows:

APPG Meeting Minutes 22.10.2015

All Party Parliamentary Group on Legal Aid – 22 October 2015

On 22 October 2015 there was a meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Legal Aid, which this month focused on the outcome of the criminal legal aid tender and the impact of family legal aid cuts on victims of domestic abuse.

YLAL Meeting Minutes 14.10.2015

Young Legal Aid Lawyers – Minutes of Meeting on 14 October 2015

Attendees

Rachel Francis, Oliver Carter, Rebecca Cross, Frances McCormack, Kate McFadden, Emily McFadden, Catherine Shannon, Kate Macleod, Philip Armitage, Emily Thornton, Christabel McCooey, Richard Bottomley, Kate Smith, Suzanne Seaton, Tara Mulcair, Derek Bernardi, Gimhani Eriyagolla, Heather Thomas

APG Meeting 16.09.2015

All Party Group on Legal Aid - The Advice Sector                       
16th September 2015

Introduction

On 16th September 2015 the All Party Parliamentary Group on Legal Aid met to discuss the problems faced by the advice sector as a result of funding cuts. The meeting was chaired by Keir Starmer, Q.C., who opened by saying that this meeting would discuss where and how people can find legal support and advice prior to any court hearing.

Response to MoJ fees consultation

Briefing for House of Lords debate

Amnesty research on legal aid cuts

Amnesty International International Secretariat research on the human rights impact of legal aid cuts in the UK 

As part of this research, described below, Amnesty International International Secretariat would like to interview lawyers and others providing front line services (eg those who run advice lines and centres, or drop-in-centres for victims of domestic violence, or children) about their experiences following the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012.  
  

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