Legal aid

Justice under pressure

The Bar got record numbers of delegates for its annual conference. Over 400 paid to attend this year’s event which had the theme of access to justice. The Bar’s success…
27 Nov 2009

In the eye of the storm

In its 60th year, the legal aid scheme, in common with the rest of the public sector, has to live within its means.
13 Nov 2009

Legal aid overpayments “genuine”

Complexities of legal aid system blamed for payment errors
6 Nov 2009

Reviewers, lies & statistics

Let us remember the names of the reviewers and researchers of legal aid since 1997: Sir Peter Middleton, Frontier Economics, Matrix Consultancy, Lord Carter of Coles, the (hapless) in-house Fundamental…
6 Nov 2009

Family cuts “undermine justice”

Fixed fee figures represent a 40% cut to hourly rates
30 Oct 2009

Cuts too high for family legal aid?

Family lawyers have voiced concern at a new “uneconomic” fixed fee structure for family legal aid work.
22 Oct 2009

Legal aid spend under review

Civil & criminal systems could be separated under Ministry of Justice proposals
15 Oct 2009

Still going strong

“Bombed—lost everything”. That was how one London Citizens Advice bureau memorably recorded the nature of the legal problems for the newly dispossessed “streams” of clients approaching the nascent service. War…
2 Oct 2009

Beyond the public purse

As legal aid limps past 60, Elsa Booth suggests the adoption of some alternative funding pathways
25 Sep 2009

Time to adjust

If it’s a 60 in London, it’s only 35 in Washington. National legal aid got going later in the US. President Obama issued a special proclamation celebrating the 35th birthday…
18 Sep 2009

Legal Aid budget “rebalance”

Maximum rates for experts and cuts to criminal work among proposed changes
4 Sep 2009

Legal aid contracts delayed

The tendering date for civil and criminal legal aid contracts has been pushed back six months to October 2010 to give the Legal Services Commission (LSC) time to finalise arrangements.
14 Aug 2009