New asylum bill to be published today
Politico, the Independent and Public News Time carry comment from Law Society President Lubna Shuja on a new bid from government to introduce legislation to stop people coming to the UK in small boats to claim asylum.
Lubna said: “As with all legislation our lens will be the rule of law and access to justice. We are concerned neither of these principles have featured in the Government’s framing of the bill prior to publishing it.
“So, we will be looking carefully at whether Britain will uphold its international obligations and whether the Home Office can deliver a fair and workable process.”
The New Statesman takes a deep dive into the routes taken by migrants and asylum seekers, citing Law Society concern that aspects of the Nationality and Borders Act may be “incompatible with international law.”
Read more about Law Society views on existing measures to manage asylum claims
Legal aid for domestic abuse
The Guardian carries an exclusive report of a domestic abuse case brought by Public Law Project, challenging a decision by the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) to deny a domestic abuse survivor legal aid to enforce child custody arrangements because she was assessed as having no dependents.
The Law Society is supporting the applicant with indemnity against adverse costs orders from the judicial review.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “It seems unlikely that parliament could have intended such an outcome and we hope either the LAA itself or the court will overturn the decision, so Susie and others in similar situations can be properly represented in the family court.”
Syndicated by New on News.
Regional admissions ceremonies
Jurist carries a piece welcoming Law Society plans to trial regional admissions ceremonies to make these more accessible to qualifying solicitors across England and Wales.
Also worth a read:
- Home Secretary seeks to backdate new asylum law – Guardian
- Government admits new law will push boundaries of international law – BBC
- Saudi Arabia grants first foreign licenses to law firms – Gazette
- MoJ pressed to publish data on unrepresented defendants – Legal Futures