header-logo header-logo

Home Login E-newsletter About us
12 February 2009 / Roger Smith
Issue: 7356 / Categories: Opinion
printer mail-detail

Beyond satirical debate?

© Copyright LexisNexis 2026. All Rights Reserved.

Roger Smith predicts an end to civil legal aid (and history) as we know it

'The Privy Council has escaped much academic investigation'

The Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council (AJTC) has proved rather more effective than its predecessor, the Council on Tribunals. Its chair is Lord Newton, a heavy-hitting former Conservative minister who has attracted considerable respect for his commitment to the task of revamping the majority of tribunals into a new structure. Th us, the criticisms of the AJTC of the plans of the Legal Services Commission (LSC) for the future of what used to be called civil legal aid and advice should be taken seriously.
The tenor of the LSC’s plans can be inferred from the title of its consultation document: “Civil bid rounds for 2010 contracts”. The Commission presents its proposals as a bureaucratic, technical exercise. However, as the AJTC has twigged, there is more to them than that. Underneath all the jargon, the basic idea is to concentrate assistance to larger regional units of provision. The AJTC is concerned with the consequences

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Read All
Sponsored by
NLJ Career Profile: Nikki Bowker, Devonshires

NLJ Career Profile: Nikki Bowker, Devonshires

Nikki Bowker, head of litigation and dispute resolution at Devonshires, on career resilience, diversity in law and channelling Elle Woods when the pressure is on

Ellisons—Sarah Osborne

Ellisons—Sarah Osborne

Leasehold enfranchisement specialist joins residential property team

DWF—Chris Air

DWF—Chris Air

Firm strengthens commercial team in Manchester with partner appointment

NEWS
Read All
NLJ this week: When post-breach events rewrite damages claims
Contract damages are usually assessed at the date of breach—but not always. Writing in NLJ this week, Ian Gascoigne, knowledge lawyer at LexisNexis, examines the growing body of cases where courts have allowed later events to reshape compensation
NLJ this week: Supreme Court redraws unfair prejudice rules
The Supreme Court has restored ‘doctrinal coherence’ to unfair prejudice litigation, writes Natalie Quinlivan, partner at Fieldfisher LLP, in this week' NLJ
NLJ this week: ‘Joe Donor’ ruling exposes dangers of unregulated conception
The High Court’s refusal to recognise a prolific sperm donor as a child’s legal parent has highlighted the risks of informal conception arrangements, according to Liam Hurren, associate at Kingsley Napley, in NLJ this week
NLJ this week: CILEX warns Mazur ruling must spark reform
The Court of Appeal’s decision in Mazur may have settled questions around litigation supervision, but the profession should not simply ‘move on’, argues Jennifer Coupland, CEO of CILEX, in this week's NLJ
NLJ this week: Conditional job offers carry hidden risks for employers
A simple phrase like ‘subject to references’ may not protect employers as much as they think. Writing in NLJ this week, Ian Smith, barrister and emeritus professor of employment law at UEA, analyses recent employment cases showing how conditional job offers can still create binding contracts
Copyright © 2026 LexisNexis
back-to-top-scroll