Reports | Young Legal Aid Lawyers

Statement on legal aid for Shamima Begum

Young Legal Aid Lawyers (YLAL) notes the media reports stating that legal aid funding will be granted to Shamima Begum, the Bethnal Green schoolgirl who travelled to Syria to join ISIS at the age of 15.

YLAL staunchly believes that public funding should be available to all those who cannot afford to pay for their own legal advice and representation. Access to justice is a fundamental human right, and a crucial component of the rule of law in our democratic society.

Legal aid news: January and February 2019

Welcome to our update of the latest legal aid and access to justice news from January and February 2019.

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:

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.