Archive

Common ground

Reforms and fee cuts have led to tensions between expert witnesses and solicitors, but both professions are united in deploring the impact on access to justice, says Mark Solon

Fake solicitor convicted of providing unlawful immigration advice

'Peddling illegal immigration advice ruins people's lives,' declares judge

A 'quantum leap' in private wealth

During these heady times of heightened reporting standards, intergovernmental agreements and the relentless drive for transparency, jurisdictional certainty can be a hard thing to find

Lewis Silkin partner found to have 'reconstructed' his memory in negligence claim

Seven-figure damages sum awarded to former client after firm failed to advise on exclusive jurisdiction clause in employment contract

Infographic: Legal aid by the numbers

Ministry of Justice: Legal aid statistics in England and Wales January to March 2015 The 'Legal Aid Statistics in England and Wales January to March 2015' from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) show that in the two years following the enactment of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO), the number of new matter starts has fallen year-on-year. Alistair MacDonald QC, chairman of the Bar Council, said: 'These figures show access to justice is not improving. Even the few who are still eligible for legal aid are not getting the help they deserve. Clearly more needs to be done to ensure that these people, who are among the most vulnerable in society, are aware that help is available. 'LASPO removed legal aid from hundreds of thousands of people per year in one fell swoop. The year after it was introduced, over 400,000 fewer people accessed legal help to assist with employment, housing, welfare, family or other legal problems compared with the year before. [The] figures show the situation has worsened.'

EU law 'wholly unfair and unsuited' for dealing with migrant crisis

Saimo Chahal QC says outdated Dublin Convention was devised at a time when the current situation could not have been foreseen by Europeans

SJ Charity and Appeals Supplement

Rounding up recent developments in the law relating to charitable organisations

UK law firms choose mergers for growth rather than cost cutting

Fewer firms found to be merging for purely 'defensive' purposes as economy recovers