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27 October 2017
Issue: 7767 / Categories: Legal News , Legal aid focus , Profession
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Why ‘A Right to Justice Act’ is wrong

Lord Bach’s proposed Justice Commission’ is a ‘quango’ that ‘this country does not need’ and his proposed Right to Justice Act is a ‘silly idea’, solicitor and NLJ columnist David Burrows writes in NLJ this week.

Lord Bach’s 50-page Right to Justice report was published to favourable reviews last month. Its headline recommendation was to create a ‘right to justice’ for individuals to receive reasonable legal assistance at a price they can afford.

It also proposed the creation of an independent Justice Commission to develop and enforce this right.

According to Burrows, however, what’s needed is a clearly-written Legal Aid Act not a Right to Justice Act. He writes: ‘The scope of legal aid is for the politicians to decide upon. The scope of justice? Never.’

On the proposed Justice Commission, Burrows says ‘judges do not need anyone—beyond the copious and ever-expanding case law—to monitor their work or to issue guidance to them’.

Issue: 7767 / Categories: Legal News , Legal aid focus , Profession
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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Private wealth and tax team welcomes cross-border specialist as consultant

HFW—Simon Petch

HFW—Simon Petch

Global shipping practice expands with experienced ship finance partner hire

Freeths—Richard Lockhart

Freeths—Richard Lockhart

Infrastructure specialist joins as partner in Glasgow office

NEWS
Talk of a reserved ‘Welsh seat’ on the Supreme Court is misplaced. In NLJ this week, Professor Graham Zellick KC explains that the Constitutional Reform Act treats ‘England and Wales’ as one jurisdiction, with no statutory Welsh slot
The government’s plan to curb jury trials has sparked ‘jury furore’. Writing in NLJ this week, David Locke, partner at Hill Dickinson, says the rationale is ‘grossly inadequate’
A year after the $1.5bn Bybit heist, crypto fraud is booming—but so is recovery. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Holloway, founder and CEO of M2 Recovery, warns that scams hit at least $14bn in 2025, fuelled by ‘pig butchering’ cons and AI deepfakes
After Woodcock confirmed no general duty to warn, debate turns to the criminal law. Writing in NLJ this week, Charles Davey of The Barrister Group urges revival of misprision or a modern equivalent
Family courts are tightening control of expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Chris Pamplin says there is ‘no automatic right’ to call experts; attendance must be ‘necessary in the interests of justice’ under FPR Pt 25
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