*/
Legal aid
Lord Neuberger has spoken out on the impact of cuts to legal aid in civil cases, which come into effect on 1 April.
The Supreme Court President took the unusual step of embarking on a series of media interviews last month. He spoke widely of the threat to the rule of law, arising from denying legal aid to over half a million people: “[P]eople will feel like the Government isn’t giving them access to justice in all sorts of cases,” he told the BBC. “And that will either lead to frustration and lack of confidence in the system, or it will lead to people taking the law into their own hands.”
Lord Neuberger added that the increase in litigants in person would lead to longer court hearings, with greater burdens on court staff and judges: “And you may find the savings the Government thinks it’s making in legal aid will be offset in other costs of courts and judges and court staff in supporting litigants in person,” a point also forcefully made by the Lord Chief Justice in his final annual evidence to the House of Lords Constitution Committee in February.
Under the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, the Government has removed funding from private family cases (apart from those involving domestic violence, forced marriage or child abduction); clinical negligence and personal injury; employment and education; as well as social welfare law, including benefits, housing, education and debt.
The Ministry of Justice, meanwhile, has thrown a lifelife to the Citizens Advice Bureau at the Royal Courts of Justice, which faced closure after Community Legal Service grants were cut. The Ministry will be providing £90,000 to support its family justice work from 1 April.
The Supreme Court President took the unusual step of embarking on a series of media interviews last month. He spoke widely of the threat to the rule of law, arising from denying legal aid to over half a million people: “[P]eople will feel like the Government isn’t giving them access to justice in all sorts of cases,” he told the BBC. “And that will either lead to frustration and lack of confidence in the system, or it will lead to people taking the law into their own hands.”
Lord Neuberger added that the increase in litigants in person would lead to longer court hearings, with greater burdens on court staff and judges: “And you may find the savings the Government thinks it’s making in legal aid will be offset in other costs of courts and judges and court staff in supporting litigants in person,” a point also forcefully made by the Lord Chief Justice in his final annual evidence to the House of Lords Constitution Committee in February.
Under the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, the Government has removed funding from private family cases (apart from those involving domestic violence, forced marriage or child abduction); clinical negligence and personal injury; employment and education; as well as social welfare law, including benefits, housing, education and debt.
The Ministry of Justice, meanwhile, has thrown a lifelife to the Citizens Advice Bureau at the Royal Courts of Justice, which faced closure after Community Legal Service grants were cut. The Ministry will be providing £90,000 to support its family justice work from 1 April.
Legal aid
Lord Neuberger has spoken out on the impact of cuts to legal aid in civil cases, which come into effect on 1 April.
Now is the time to tackle inappropriate behaviour at the Bar as well as extend our reach and collaboration with organisations and individuals at home and abroad
A comparison – Dan Monaghan, Head of DWF Chambers, invites two viewpoints
And if not, why not? asks Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management
Marie Law, Head of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, discusses the many benefits of oral fluid drug testing for child welfare and protection matters
To mark International Women’s Day, Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management looks at how financial planning can help bridge the gap
Casey Randall of AlphaBiolabs answers some of the most common questions regarding relationship DNA testing for court
Maria Scotland and Niamh Wilkie report from the Bar Council’s 2024 visit to the United Arab Emirates exploring practice development opportunities for the England and Wales family Bar
Marking Neurodiversity Week 2025, an anonymous barrister shares the revelations and emotions from a mid-career diagnosis with a view to encouraging others to find out more
David Wurtzel analyses the outcome of the 2024 silk competition and how it compares with previous years, revealing some striking trends and home truths for the profession
Save for some high-flyers and those who can become commercial arbitrators, it is generally a question of all or nothing but that does not mean moving from hero to zero, says Andrew Hillier
