Legal Aid Update: Training notes

On 11 June we ran a seminar to update members on some of the key changes brought about under the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) and the more recent changes put forth in the Government consultations, Transforming Legal Aid and Transforming Legal Aid: Next Steps.

We are very grateful to our speakers:

Connor Johnson, Co-Chair of Young Legal Aid Lawyers and a barrister at Garden Court Chambers, who gave an introductory session to provide an overview of the changes.

Martha Spurrier of Doughty Street Chambers, a barrister who has been involved in the recent judicial reviews of the cuts to legal aid who shared her first hand experience of the litigation, in particular the residence test for legal aid. 

Alice Cullingworth, a member of the YLAL committee and trainee solicitor at Irwin Mitchell solicitors. Alice spoke about changes to legal aid for judicial review.

Alistair Parker, a criminal solicitor of 10 years experience who works at Saunders Law Ltd and committee member of the London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association (LCCSA) who spoke on cuts to criminal legal aid.

Training notes from Connor, Martha and Alice are attached.