NEWS

Christina Blacklaws, director of family law at the Co-operative Legal Services, says:

“At a time of major changes in legal aid, we believe it’s vital to make it as easy as possible for people to gain access to justice. We are doing this by providing an innovative approach that will appeal to those who are currently reluctant to access family law services.”

Read more here –

http://legalvoice.org.uk/family/if-people-want-a-rottweiler-they-can-go-...

The Government has announced its position on welfare benefits advice in a Written Ministerial Statement.

After April 2013, the work which will be covered by legal aid will be only:
• Appeals to the First-tier Tribunal in Social Security and Child Support for all welfare benefits cases (including housing benefits, war pensions, State pensions, vaccine damage payments or similar benefits) where the Tribunal reviews its own decision because there has been an error in law; and
• Appeals on a point of law to the Upper Tribunal and onwards appeals on a point of law to the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

Full Statement found here:
http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-vote-office/September_2012/18...

The Lord Chief Justice, one of the most senior judges in the country has voiced his concerns over the significant increase in self-represented litigants that will arise from the legal aid cuts.

The difficulties faced by self-represented litigants in the court system have previously been highlighted in a report by the Civil Justice Council. Read the report here: http://www.judiciary.gov.uk/about-the-judiciary/advisory-bodies/cjc/self...

Plaid Cymry MP and Elfyn Llwyd MP have slammed the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill as being catastrophic to the future of family justice.

Elfyn Llwyd commented:

“This was a bad bill, it remains a bad bill and, unless some sensible government appraisal is urgently undertaken, the consequences for society at large and vulnerable families in particular are going to be little short of catastrophic.”

Read more here –

http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/all-round-roasting-family-justice-reforms