YLAL News | Young Legal Aid Lawyers

Statement on the treatment of BPTC students due to sit BSB exams in August 2020

Young Legal Aid Lawyers (YLAL) is committed to promoting the interests of new entrants to the legal profession and to increasing social mobility and diversity within the legal aid sector.

YLAL is deeply concerned about the experiences of some Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) students who are due to sit the centralised Bar Standards Board (BSB) exams in August 2020.

On 13 May 2020, the BSB announced that those requiring reasonable adjustments would be able to access Pearson VUE test centres to sit the three centralised BSB exams.

Karl Turner MP's report on Coronavirus and the Criminal Justice System

YLAL welcomes the Shadow Minister for Legal Aid Karl Turner MP’s recent report Coronavirus and the Criminal Justice System – Saving Access to Justice. The report can be read here.

Legal aid news: June 2020

Welcome to our update of the legal aid and access to justice news from June 2020.

In Defence of Jury Trials - Joint Statement

"The principle that a person who is facing a life-changing judgment, and risks losing their freedom, has the right to have their case heard and judged by people representative of their community – of different ages, ethnicities and professional and educational backgrounds – is a fundamental aspect of the criminal justice system in England & Wales."

A sector at breaking point: Justice denied for victims of trafficking

A new report by Young Legal Aid Lawyers (‘YLAL’), “A Sector at Breaking Point: Justice Denied for Victims of Trafficking”, confirms that there is a market failure in the asylum and immigration legal aid sector, with victims of trafficking often unable to access legally aided asylum and immigration advice and representation.

YLAL COVID-19 Student Report - June 2020

On 18 June 2020, Young Legal Aid Lawyers (YLAL) published its report on the impact of COVID-19 on law students. Students make up a sizeable proportion of YLAL’s membership and one of YLAL’s main focus areas is to encourage individuals to consider a career in legal aid. The report considers survey responses collected between 20 April and 5 May 2020. We received 138 responses from YLAL members who are students.

Criminal Legal Aid Review: A Response to the Accelerated Package of Measures Amending the Criminal Legal Aid Fee Schemes

YLAL has engaged with the Ministry of Justice ('MoJ') Criminal Legal Aid Review ('CLAR') throughout the consultation process and has now responded to the consultation on the Accelerated Areas for criminal legal aid review.

You can read our response below.

Legal aid news: May 2020

Welcome to our update of the latest legal aid and access to justice news from May 2020.

Legal aid funding during Covid-19: On 4 May 2020, the Ministry of Justice (‘MoJ’) announced new government funding of £5.4 million to support the legal advice sector during the pandemic. Law Centres have seen an increase in demand for advice on social welfare issues, so this funding is aimed at mitigating the increase in costs of providing remote services.

New rules threaten access to justice for asylum seekers and migrants

Take Action to Protect Access to Justice for Asylum Seekers and Migrants

New legal aid rules will decimate access to justice for asylum seekers and migrants. These rules must be stopped. Please support YLAL's campaign against these rules and ask your MP to support a fatal motion in Parliament.

What is the issue?

YLAL member and Garden Court North pupil barrister Christian Weaver created this helpful explainer:

YLAL South West: Taking Care of Your Wellbeing During COVID-19

On Wednesday 27 May 2020, YLAL South West hosted a virtual meeting on wellbeing during COVID-19. The meeting was chaired by Emma Trevett (YLAL committee member, paralegal at Irwin Mitchell LLP and volunteer at Bristol Law Centre). The meeting began by discussing the key findings from YLAL’s second COVID-19 report.