APPG on Legal Aid - 27.02.19
LASPO Post-Implementation Review and Future Legal Aid Policy
In the Equality Impact Assessment accompanying the LASPO Bill, the Ministry of Justice set out its objectives for the proposed legislation as:
Reports
Conference: The Fight For Social Justice
The Fight For Social Justice: Young Lawyers Making Change
We are delighted to be hosting our second joint conference with Public Law Project and the Legal Education Foundation's Justice First Fellows on Saturday 16 March 2019 at BPP Waterloo in London.
A turning point for access to justice?
YLAL co-chair Oliver Carter has written for The Justice Gap about the government's review of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO), which brought in huge cuts to legal aid.
You can read the full article here, and we have copied part of it below:
Statement on LASPO review
Young Legal Aid Lawyers (YLAL) welcomes the publication today of the Post-Implementation Review of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) and the Legal Support Action Plan by the Ministry of Justice.
Statement on LASPO review delay
Justice delayed is justice denied: YLAL expresses concern about LASPO review delay
Young Legal Aid Lawyers (YLAL) is disappointed at the continuing delay in the publication of the post-implementation review of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) by the Ministry of Justice.
Statement on legal aid for criminal appeals
Young Legal Aid Lawyers (YLAL) notes the on-going media coverage concerning the case of Jack Shepherd, and in particular the criticism of the way in which criminal appeals are funded. YLAL believes that legal aid should be available at all stages of the criminal justice system, including trial and appeal. Justice may only be done if individuals are properly represented throughout the process of criminal proceedings, including before appeal courts.
YLAL response to Law Society article on trainee salaries
The Law Society has published findings which state that the number of trainee solicitors working for less than the recommended minimum salary is at its lowest point for three years.
Consent Order in Duncan Lewis no payment without permission JR
As requested at our London meeting on 9 January 2019, please find attached the consent order in Duncan Lewis' judicial review of the rules prohibiting payment in claims for judicial review in circumstances where permission has not been granted. Many thanks to Duncan Lewis and Tim Buley from Landmark Chambers for providing this.
Resources from Discrimination Event
Attached to this post is Sarah Hannett's handout from the joint YLAL-DLA event on "Access to Justice for Victims of Discrimination" held in London on 14 November 2018. The handout is entitled: "Using the Equality Act 2010 in Public Law Claims".
Response to AGFS consultation
On 12 October 2018, Young Legal Aid Lawyers (YLAL) responded to the Ministry of Justice consultation on 'Amending the Advocates' Graduated Fee Scheme'. Our full response to the consultation is below.
We told the government that whilst we welcome the much-needed injection of additional funding into the Advocates' Graduated Fee Scheme (AGFS), we wish to make it absolutely clear that it is not enough. It is not enough to address the crisis within criminal legal aid and, more broadly, the criminal justice system as a whole.