MPs call for review of legal aid cuts

The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee has added its voice to calls for an independent assessment of the impact of the government’s cuts to legal aid.

In a hard-hitting report on Ministry of Justice finances, the committee said the government’s own impact assessment ‘has not identified the behaviour changes which may arise from the new legal aid arrangements, and should do so’.

It called on the ministry to arrange for the National Audit Office ‘to review the impact assessment to ascertain whether the assumptions are sound and uncertainties have been acknowledged’.

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News | Law Gazette



Family Law Solicitors Sevenoaks

Family lawyers renew attack on ‘devastating’ legal aid cuts

Removing legal aid for private family cases could lead to thousands of children losing contact with a parent and many families being left dependant on welfare benefits, family lawyers warn today.

In a renewed attack on provisions of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders (LASPO) bill, which resumes the process of scrutiny by the Lords tomorrow, Resolution, a group representing family lawyers, has voiced concern about potentially ‘devastating’ consequences.

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News | Law Gazette



Sevenoaks Solicitors

Legal aid cuts are false economy, says study

Planned cuts to legal aid in private family work, social welfare law and clinical negligence will save less than half the sum predicted by the government, according to an independent economic study published today. The Law Society’s chief executive, Desmond Hudson, said the report’s findings ‘fatally undermine’ Ministry of Justice claims about savings to be achieved by measures in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders bill, which resumes Lords scrutiny tomorrow.

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News | Law Gazette



Solicitors Sevenoaks

It was a dreadful 12 months for legal aid lawyers, with the government impervious to reason on swingeing cuts

It’s impossible to precis the events of 2011 in a manner that is of universal relevance to an ever more polarised legal profession. So much has happened; so much has still to happen. Clearly, it was a dreadful 12 months for legal aid lawyers, with an ideologically driven government impervious to reason on swingeing cuts that will cost more than they save. Personal injury claimant lawyers are also smarting, for obvious reasons.

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Opinion | Law Gazette



Lawyers in Sevenoaks

Labour peers are preparing to mount a last stand against legal aid cuts

By the Rt. Hon Sadiq Khan MP, shadow lord chancellor and shadow secretary of state for justice and constitutional affairs

Earlier this month, despite opposition from the Labour Party, charities and campaigning groups from the Law Society to the Women’s Institute, government plans to slash social welfare legal aid passed through the House of Commons.

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Opinion | Law Gazette



Family Law Solicitors Sevenoaks

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