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Secret legal service?
There has been a “disturbing reduction” in the take-up of legal aid cases in civil law, says the Legal Action Group. Figures obtained from the Legal Aid Agency for the first quarter of the current year (2013/14) show that 3,866 fewer people than predicted received civil legal aid – a total shortfall of 52%, with the lowest shortfall in education law at 12% and the highest in discrimination law at 77%.
Civil legal aid – the secret legal service? identifies a combination of factors, including the reduction in the number of organisations offering legal aid, a perception amongst the public that they can no longer get help with any civil law problems, complicated bureaucracy, and a failure by the government to advertise adequately the availability of services. Read the paper at www.lag.org.uk.
Clean Break
The theatre company working with women whose lives have been affected by the criminal justice system is presenting Billy the Girl, written by Katie Hims and directed by Lucy Morrison, at the Soho Theatre from 29 October to 24 November. Clean Break operates a year-round programme of theatre productions, new writing projects and drama-based education from its North London studios and in women’s prisons. On 13 November, post-show panellists will discuss concepts of chaos and women in the criminal justice system. Tickets are available from the box office on 020 7478 0100 or www.sohotheatre.com. See also cleanbreak.org.uk.
Civil legal aid – the secret legal service? identifies a combination of factors, including the reduction in the number of organisations offering legal aid, a perception amongst the public that they can no longer get help with any civil law problems, complicated bureaucracy, and a failure by the government to advertise adequately the availability of services. Read the paper at www.lag.org.uk.
Clean Break
The theatre company working with women whose lives have been affected by the criminal justice system is presenting Billy the Girl, written by Katie Hims and directed by Lucy Morrison, at the Soho Theatre from 29 October to 24 November. Clean Break operates a year-round programme of theatre productions, new writing projects and drama-based education from its North London studios and in women’s prisons. On 13 November, post-show panellists will discuss concepts of chaos and women in the criminal justice system. Tickets are available from the box office on 020 7478 0100 or www.sohotheatre.com. See also cleanbreak.org.uk.
Secret legal service?
There has been a “disturbing reduction” in the take-up of legal aid cases in civil law, says the Legal Action Group. Figures obtained from the Legal Aid Agency for the first quarter of the current year (2013/14) show that 3,866 fewer people than predicted received civil legal aid – a total shortfall of 52%, with the lowest shortfall in education law at 12% and the highest in discrimination law at 77%.
Update from the Chair of the Bar
By Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group
Modernising communication and collaboration at a leading Chancery set. A Zexi case study
How to build profile without compromising professional duties. By Naumaan Farooq, Co-Founder of Inked PR
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the role of cut-off levels, and the wider range of factors that must be considered when interpreting results for family court proceedings
Endometriosis Awareness North, a charity raising awareness of endometriosis and supporting those affected across the North of England, has received a £500 boost from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
A decade of reviews and research has disrupted accepted thinking in the search for causality. Suicides following abuse have overtaken domestic homicides. Is the law keeping up? Professor Susan Edwards KC (Hon) examines recent cases and the obstacles to successful prosecution
The case against judge-only justice – and why efficiency is not enough. By Professor Leslie Thomas KC
Heritage as an anchor and a compass, finding our common humanity and embracing the power of the outsider – Melina Antoniadis’s lessons learnt
Seeing the full picture – Baljit Ubhey OBE outlines the CPS action plan to tackle violence against women and girls, offering insights directly relevant to courtroom practice
Lauren Fullerton examines the how, what and why of setting up a second chambers base
