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08 November 2018 / Dr Jon Robins
Issue: 7816 / Categories: Opinion , Legal aid focus , Housing
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Justice in a time of austerity

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In the first part of an exclusive NLJ series, Jon Robins reports on the precarious reality of the poor (& not-so-poor) in our society & their quest for justice post LASPO

Last Monday was, relatively speaking, a quiet day at Stratford Hearing Centre in east London. There were 12 rent possession cases on the housing list. On a busy day, Simon Mullings, housing duty adviser, reckons he can see as many as 20 people. ‘It can be manic,’ he says. ‘You’re literally running between the duty room and the court, constantly talking to housing officers and ushers.’

Conveyor belt justice

Mullings, a senior case worker at Edwards Duthie Solicitors, has been covering the duty scheme at various courts in east London for 15 years. He greets each tenant in the same friendly and reassuring manner: ‘Good afternoon, I’m Simon Mullings. I’m here to advise you about the case. I can represent you in a court.’

It is a bewildering experience for tenants fearful of losing their homes. ‘Half of them think you’re the judge,’

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