Civil legal aid deserts
Chad Mansfield continues regional coverage of our legal aid desert maps.
The 1 April marked 10 years since the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Publishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) came into force, devastating the legal aid system.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “For rights to be real, everyone who qualifies for state-funded legal advice must be able to get that advice when they need it, so that they can uphold and enforce their rights.
The Times (£) looks at how to reform legal aid.
Legal Action Group Blog also mentions our legal aid desert maps and our 21st Century Justice Project.
Delays in the family courts
Today’s Family Lawyer reports that newly released statistics show that the family court system is mired with unprecedented delays and backlogs.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “These delays are preventing parents from being able to see their children and could mean children are left without the stability they need to thrive. The UK government must ensure, so far as possible, that there are sufficient fee-paid and full-time judges to deal with existing and new caseloads.”
Also worth a read: