Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #LegalAid
Most recents (24)
Fewer @CPSUK prosecutions ever make it to Crown Court - charge rate just 5.4% - yet delays to trials from CPS-cuts up delays multiply
473 trials were adjourned at the last moment, deemed ineffective as “prosecution not ready”for year to June 2022, the highest annual for 7 years
473 trials were adjourned at the last moment, deemed ineffective as “prosecution not ready”for year to June 2022, the highest annual for 7 years
A further 537 trials were adjourned at the last minute in the Crown Court over the year to June 2022 as @MoJGovUK records that they were ineffective for the reason of “prosecution witness absent”
severe under resourcing of police and @CPSUK strains a depleted @TheCriminalBar
severe under resourcing of police and @CPSUK strains a depleted @TheCriminalBar
Further investment into criminal legal aid via CLAAB (criminal #legalaid advisory body) must go hand-in-and with sustained reinvestme into prosecution services for any hope of a first stabilised and then revitalised independent criminal bar able to both defend and prosecute.
Today the @LegalAidAgency announced that civil contracts, due to expire Aug 23, will be extended to Aug 24. Many providers will be pleased, & fair enough too, as tenders are time-consuming, costly & disruptive, & as some have found in recent years, can go horribly wrong. 🧵1/16
But the @LegalAidAgency only carries out large-scale tenders across all civil contracts periodically, as contracts come to an end. The last tender (for contracts from Sep 18) is the last time new providers could get a contract & existing providers could expand/do new work. 2/16
Today’s news means that new providers will continue to be locked out of #LegalAid for 2 more years, & those wanting to expand cannot. Legal aid work is really challenging: underpaid, complex and maligned by many. Remarkably there are lawyers who are still willing to do it. 3/16
⚖️Following news that barristers have voted to escalate their current #LegalAid action from 5 September, we warn that solicitors will continue to vote with their feet in leaving the #CriminalDefence profession unless more investment is forthcoming 1/8
Our vice president @lubnashuja said: “Solicitors share barristers’ concerns about the collapsing #CriminalJustice system" 2/8
"Solicitors are experiencing the same squeeze as barristers but *many are limited in the action they can take by their professional obligations to their clients and their legal aid contracts*" 3/8
I'm striking because nobody should have their legal representative turn up to their trial when they might have had 2-3 hours sleep, they're on £12,200 pa, they're burning or are already burnt out, they've only had the papers since 6pm the night before, and the £75 trial fee... 1.
Means they're worried about paying rent next week, feeding themselves, being able to afford the rising costs of travelling to court to do the trial in the first place.
This is the reality under #legalaid today for junior #criminalbarristers
Its time to fund justice properly 2.
This is the reality under #legalaid today for junior #criminalbarristers
Its time to fund justice properly 2.
That funding was identified in the independent review. It's now time for the government to make good on that review and their promise to put in the cash injection so sorely needed or there won't be a criminal justice system left when a further 500, 1000, 1500 barristers quit. 3.
A mother just told me her son has been on remand – in prison – for almost a year after being supected of couriering an ounce of a class B drug.
The prosecution submitted a truly ludicrous valuation of this substance to the court – and they've provided no evidence to substantiate this price whatsoever, despite repeated requests from the defence.
Unsurprisingly, the defendant invested their time + money in commissioning an independent drug valuation expert. This specialist agreed that the valuation was astonishing, even saying he'd never seen anything so unbelievable with no supporting evidence.
1/ Sharing my recent article in Mingpao, in response to people (especially those in the legal community) who say that legally aided persons don't pay, and thus should have no right to choose their lawyers.
2/ Legal aid is built into the justice system to address the inequalities inherent in our society. It acts like a capacitor in an electric circuit, to smooth out the fluctuations.
3/ Legally aided persons are those who lose out in the system, because of the way the system is built and sustained. They don't pay not because they don't want to, but because they can't.
The National Legal Services Authority is observing "Legal Services Day" today & will be launching the iOS moblie application.
Chief Justice of India NV Ramana will be the Chief Guest of the function. Live updates below.
#NALSA
Chief Justice of India NV Ramana will be the Chief Guest of the function. Live updates below.
#NALSA
Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court Rajesh Bindal begins welcome address: I welcome our Chief Guest Justice NV Ramana.
His Lordship is not only known for his commitment to provide #legalaid to the last member of society but has also taken various steps to make it possible.
His Lordship is not only known for his commitment to provide #legalaid to the last member of society but has also taken various steps to make it possible.
Justice Rajesh Bindal also welcomes Union Minister for law & justice, @KirenRijiju and Justice UU Lalit.
#NALSA
#NALSA
In response to the Prime Minister's comments about the role of defence in rape cases today 1/6
.@LawSocPresident I. Stephanie Boyce said: "The suggestion that defence lawyers are the reason that rape convictions are at such low levels is just plain wrong and surprising, given the very different conclusions reached in the UK government’s own Rape Review" 2/6
"The UK government's own review concluded, quite rightly, that the current situation for victims is *totally unacceptable*" 3/6
Justice DY Chandrachud speaks on "Rendering Pro-bono Services with Legal Services Authority," at the launch of the Pan India Legal Awareness and Outreach Campaign by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA).
Justice Chandrachud: The launch of a pan India legal awareness campaign by NALSA is an important milestone to reflect on the progress we have made as a country to ensure the fulfilment of a key promise of the Constitution to its citizens and a fundamental guarantee u/ Art 21.
Justice Chandrachud: We have come a long way as a nation since the right to free legal aid was incorporated under Article 39A of the Constitution. In a sense it was a leveller to secure justice to the common person living in an underprivileged strata of society
Edinburgh Criminal lawyers will withdraw their Labour on St.Andrew’s day 30th November due to the abject failure of @scotgov to deal with the decimation of #LegalAid & impact of #Covid19- Its time the rest of 🏴criminal bar united & did the same as edinbarassoc.com 1/9👇🏽
Despite the 3% increase in fees across the board announced in November 2018, previous cuts mean the fixed fee for a summary trial is lower than it was in 1999. It is 21 years since that rate was fixed. 2/9
The problems faced by the profession have been growing for decades and have been exacerbated by the Covid 19 pandemic. When lockdown was this year, most of the business in the Sheriff Courts ground to a halt. Legal aid practitioners were required to cover urgent business 3/9
#1 @CommonsJustice has launched inquiry into the future of #LegalAid in light of concerns raised during #COVID19. @RobertBuckland has a lot to answer for. COVID merely exposes the crisis he helped to create.
#2 #legalaid practitioners should contribute to this inquiry. @neill_bob needs to be hearing from you.
If @neill_bob is accepting written submissions (and he ought to be) all #legalaid practitioners should take part.
What a show #LALY2020! @FionaBawdon @APPGLegalAid @ChrisLAPG @KateLAPG @BeckFitzgerald @MaryRachel_McC Nicola @macklawlondon @AnnaJonesSky @david_challen and everyone involved - that was magnificent! 1/12
So many remarkable stories of remarkable people doing remarkable work. That aspect of the LALYs is always so moving every year. 2/12
But as my new friend @SpikeNorman said later, this year many friends and family will have got to know why their mate or family member with the weird job - 'what is it they do again? Like a lawyer but no money, is that it?' - do what they do. 3/12
Usually, I tweet my Law in Rural America course @UMichLaw on Weds, but this week 2 students created FANTASTIC threads outlining what we're working on 👉🏻 Rural #LegalAid + #AccessToJustice. Read the threads, then ask @mvrleegoskv + @HannahPaton12 any Qs you may have! 💯 1/
First up, check out this super informative thread from @mvrleegoskv discussing articles from @lisareneepruitt and Hannah Haksgaard👇🏻 #WomenAlsoKnowLaw #RuralLaw #A2J 2/
Then, read this fantastic content from @HannahPaton12 who also contextualizes the academic readings with media sources for you to read. 🙌🏻 #WomenAlsoKnowLaw #RuralLaw #A2J (3/3 from me)
There is nothing like a crisis to expose the cavernous gaps in our systems of support. A few examples among many:
(thread from @angelaciolfi new op-ed in @MercuryVirginia - virginiamercury.com/2020/03/19/cov…) #coronavirus #advocacy #legalaid
(thread from @angelaciolfi new op-ed in @MercuryVirginia - virginiamercury.com/2020/03/19/cov…) #coronavirus #advocacy #legalaid
A few examples among many:
Evicting people from public housing for unpaid rent when other affordable housing options are scarce has always increased homelessness and educational instability. COVID-19 just lays bare the naked cruelty of it.
Evicting people from public housing for unpaid rent when other affordable housing options are scarce has always increased homelessness and educational instability. COVID-19 just lays bare the naked cruelty of it.
Firing workers for being sick — or for taking care of sick children or parents — has always been heartless. Why is it any more unconscionable when the disease is coronavirus instead of flu or cancer?
For International Women’s Day, I think of the women who were let down.
I think of the women who have been silenced by those who claim to hear but fail to listen.
THREAD
#IWD2020
#IWD
#EachforEqual
I think of the women who have been silenced by those who claim to hear but fail to listen.
THREAD
#IWD2020
#IWD
#EachforEqual
I think of the women who were told that they would be heard, if they reported their assault.
But weren’t.
#IWD2020
#IWD
#EachforEqual
But weren’t.
#IWD2020
#IWD
#EachforEqual
I think of the women who were told that #coercivecontrol is a crime, that they should report and their perpetrator would be held accountable.
But were told there was no *evidence*
#IWD2020
#IWD
#EachforEqual
But were told there was no *evidence*
#IWD2020
#IWD
#EachforEqual
Topic 4: Hate Crime/Speech By Spring 2020, @DeptJusticeIRL commits to #CERD19 that Ireland's approach to Hate Crime/Speech will be known and then progressed to legislation etc.
@DeptJusticeIRL Topic 4: Hate Crime/Speech #CERD2019 By end of December 2019, @DeptJusticeIRL will release Heads of legislation relating to social media/online platforms and harmful communications (incl. racism). Other law reform initiatives in progress.
@DeptJusticeIRL Topic 4: Hate Crime/Speech #CERD2019 Once all legislative measures are progressed, Ireland will reconsider its interpretive declaration to #CERD 's prohibition on hate speech under Art. 4 @DeptJusticeIRL
Hoping this cuts through the #NextPrimeMinister noise!
@cldesira’s article on #SettledStatus published on @freemovementlaw this morning bit.ly/2Z4YOPn
Any community group can book him to attend your event on #EUSS for free at eurights.uk
5 key points:
@cldesira’s article on #SettledStatus published on @freemovementlaw this morning bit.ly/2Z4YOPn
Any community group can book him to attend your event on #EUSS for free at eurights.uk
5 key points:
1/ On advice blackspots:
"We want to know the locations of people applying so that we know where the blackspots are where people are not engaged"
(bit.ly/2Z4YOPn)
"We want to know the locations of people applying so that we know where the blackspots are where people are not engaged"
(bit.ly/2Z4YOPn)
2/ On the need to engage with non-European communities who have EU family members:
"There is no nationality breakdown of the non-European citizens are applying (as family members of a European sponsor) ... We do not know who they are and where they are.”
(bit.ly/2Z4YOPn)
"There is no nationality breakdown of the non-European citizens are applying (as family members of a European sponsor) ... We do not know who they are and where they are.”
(bit.ly/2Z4YOPn)
So for the last few months I have been exploring setting up a dedicated #Housing advice centre for #Suffolk. It is undeniable that due to the lack of #LegalAid provision in the county and the increase in people seeking specialist advice that a housing advice centre is desirable.
Whilst speaking to people about this a question that has been raised a number of times is “why are you not still providing specialist housing advice at @midsuffolkcab?” A good question that really does need answering so here goes.
This was me just over 7 months ago, happy #volunteering for @midsuffolkcab as a housing adviser and running a general advice outreach service at Wattisham. I was busy, the role stressful but for the most part I was throughly enjoying being part of something that I believed in.
THREAD (a long one). Some of you may remember my client, @Tonyrice66, otherwise known as "the real life Daniel Blake". I tweeted about his case in December 2017 and it went a bit viral (see this other thread here..)
Well, after much wrestling with the DWP regarding the sanctions Tony had had placed on his #UniversalCredit claim, they admitted the sanctions were unfair and refunded him the money he had been entitled to all along.
Tony was able to use this to pay off a chunk of his rent arrears, and kept a roof over his head. (Thanks @spikemullings for huge amounts of work on this).
I agree with the sentiment but I cannot emphasise enough that #homelessness, #foodbanks, #ChildPoverty, #HostileEnvironment all existed before #brexit. They are not a consequence of #brexit but #Conservatives policy. It doesn't have to be this way, it's a political choice ->
Before someone from #FBPE jumps in and says "that's because focus has been on brexit" ... not it isn't. This is #Conservative policy. The privatisation of #NHS, the changes in #Education, reductions in #LegalAid ... where has the #EU been in stopping all this? It hasn't.
There has been a constant drive to reform society from health to education, none of which is about addressing the issues of inequality.
Labour demands inquiry into how GCSE reform has benefited private schools - theguardian.com/education/2018…
Labour demands inquiry into how GCSE reform has benefited private schools - theguardian.com/education/2018…
This all started because the #MetPolice & #LBRUT couldn't do their day jobs properly & decided to take the law into their own hands. It started as a small cover up 12 years ago but has turned into British State Persecution.
#Skynews #BBCNews #DailyMail #Guardian #Euronews
#Skynews #BBCNews #DailyMail #Guardian #Euronews
My company was raided. It should have been a straightforward matter. But the #MetPolice & #LBRUT forgot to seize my computer & came back to do a 2nd raid. The search warrant didn't permit a second entry, however, #LBRUT entered unlawfully
#Guardian #Telegraph #DailyMail #GMB #UK
#Guardian #Telegraph #DailyMail #GMB #UK
Complaints were then made to my MP #VinceCable. He liaised with the #Metpolice & #LBRUT. And then weeks later, the search warrant was completely changed & was passed off as the search warrant executed on the day of the raids.
#DailyPolitics #Libdems #Conservatives #labour #bbcdp
#DailyPolitics #Libdems #Conservatives #labour #bbcdp
Welcome to the #Metpolice
justlivewithit.co.uk/metpolice/blog…
#skynews #TargetedIndividual #bbcnews #coverup #c4news #worldnews #euronews #conspiracy #news #ukgov #theresamay #LBC
justlivewithit.co.uk/metpolice/blog…
#skynews #TargetedIndividual #bbcnews #coverup #c4news #worldnews #euronews #conspiracy #news #ukgov #theresamay #LBC
It's a criminal offence to falsifying a legal instrument. But if the #MetPolice / #LBRUT do it, then there is not even an investigation. 12 years of silence. Evidence to prove it - ukcoverup.com/search-warrant-
#skynews #lbc #theresamay #uk #bbcnews #coverup #c4news #worldnews #ukgov
#skynews #lbc #theresamay #uk #bbcnews #coverup #c4news #worldnews #ukgov
Welcome to the #Metpolice who also changed & falsified my arrest details. Have a look at the evidence here ukcoverup.com/arrest-details as it's all easy to prove & that's why it's never addressed
#R4today #corruption #coverup #leadership #values #corevalues #bbcnews #skynews #itvnews
#R4today #corruption #coverup #leadership #values #corevalues #bbcnews #skynews #itvnews
Exclusive: leaked report from the MoJ reveals explosive testimony from judges who have seen a rise in people facing criminal charges without a lawyer buzzfeed.com/emilydugan/the… #TheLawIsBroken #LegalAid
I have been trying to get hold of this report since April last year. Last week I wrote about a 6 page summary which was released to me under FOI. buzzfeed.com/emilydugan/the…
It had no quotes from the judges and I was convinced it wasn't the full report. I told the MoJ press office as much but they insisted it was repeatedly.
Her daughter was banned from Home Office building because officials refused to tolerate being told they were wrong. Let’s think on that. 1/5
Over several years, Ministers & Parliament have cut & removed rights of appeal because they refuse to tolerate people insisting officials are wrong & trying to correct that. 2/5
Ministers & Parliament have cut & removed #legalaid & constrained access to judicial review because they refuse to tolerate people insisting officials are wrong & trying to correct that. 3/5
