Time for Justice: Event and Briefing
Following Early Day Motion 1111, which concerns the government’s proposed Statutory Instrument (SI) on Criminal Legal Aid remuneration, a debate will take place in the House of Commons on this Tuesday 8 May 2018.
We want all MPs to know about the crisis in the criminal justice system.
On the day of the debate, 8th May 2018, the Criminal Bar Association (‘CBA’) and Young Legal Aid Lawyers (‘YLAL’), supported by a broad coalition, comprising The Bar Council, Young Bar Committee, Criminal Law Solicitors Association and the Justice Alliance, will host a briefing event in the House of Commons: Time For Justice: The Law is Broken in Room 14, House of Commons Corridor between 5:30 -6.30pm.
Angela Rafferty, Chair of the CBA and Siobhan Taylor-Ward, Vice Chair of YLAL and Justice First Fellow, will join Baroness Helena Kennedy QC; Bob Neill MP, Chair of the Justice Select Committee; Richard Burgon MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Justice and Shadow Lord Chancellor; and young legal aid lawyers to discuss the crisis in the criminal justice system.
This will launch the successful crowdfunding campaign to provide MPs with a copy of a book by the Secret Barrister: Stories of the Law and How it is Broken,and the YLAL Report on Social Mobility in a Time of Austerity.
It is critical that our elected representatives have a clear understanding of the crisis the Criminal Justice System is facing.
MPs will be invited to attend to collect their copies and discuss the crisis in our criminal justice system. We also encourage anyone interested to attend. If doing so please leave plenty of time to get through security.
We ask that you lobby your MP to attend the event, collect their book and report, consider the EDM and join the debate. A draft letter has been prepared but we urge all to consider personalising with stories of the law and how it is broken and your experiences of the criminal justice system including the sustainability of the profession, the action undertaken and the impact of the lack of investment.
You can lobby your MP using this website – please do personalise with your own stories of life as a young legal aid lawyer.
YLAL’s briefing on our recent social mobility report, and a joint briefing from YLAL and CBA on the Advocates Graduated Fee Scheme (‘AGFS’) are attached below.
Our letter to MPs, with our member Danielle’s account of her route and experience of working in criminal legal aid, is also attached.