Westminster Commission on Legal Aid report launch: recommendations to improve the sustainability of legal aid
The Westminster Commission on Legal Aid, created by a cross-party panel of parliamentarians under the auspices of the APPG on Legal Aid, has published its report and recommendations after a year-long Inquiry into the state of the legal aid sector. The Commission has set out a series of practical and necessary reforms that the government… continue reading
Winners announced for the 2021 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards!
This year’s LALY winners were announced last Tuesday 6th of July. What a wonderful night celebrating once again our Legal Aid heroes. Read our official press release here to get all the details.
LAPG announces the winners of the 2021 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards
LAPG hosts the second ‘lockdown LALY awards’ to celebrate the vital work of social justice lawyers during the pandemic. Winners at last night’s awards include solicitor and barrister duo behind successful challenges to Home Office ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’ policy. Adam Hundt, from Deighton Pierce Glynn, and Alex Goodman, from Landmark Chambers, were named… continue reading
LAPG announces Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards 2021 finalists
A housing barrister who is playing a leading role in challenging ‘No DSS’ landlords; and a solicitor who defended the parents of ‘Jihadi Jack’ Letts, have been honoured by this year’s LALY awards judges. The pair are among 26 individuals and nine organisations chosen as finalists in the Legal Aid Practitioners Group 2021 Legal Aid… continue reading
LAPG launches 2021 Legal Aid Census ‘to show true state of social justice sector’
Lawyers across England and Wales are urged to ‘stand up and be counted’, by taking part in a unique drive to gather data from the legal aid front line. LAPG survey has been devised in conjunction with leading legal academics from Newcastle University Law School, Cardiff University and University College London who will be analysing… continue reading
We’re delighted to announce the judging panel for the 2021 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards
After the success of the 2020 ‘Lockdown LALYs’ the 2021 LALY awards are now in full swing as we build up to this year’s virtual ceremony on the evening of the 6th of July. Nominations are open until the 19th of April, after which this year’s judging panel will have the difficult task of selecting… continue reading
LAPG’s 2021 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards are now open.
Nominations close on 19 April; new award category for this year: Disability Rights. Winners of the 12 awards will be announced on 6 July at a virtual ceremony to be broadcast online. The 2021 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year (LALY) awards have been launched by the Legal Aid Practitioners Group, with awards in 12… continue reading
LAPG Annual Legal Aid Conference – 22-26 February 2021
Join us for LAPG’s first foray into a fully digital conference. With a superb mix of workshops delivering practitioner-focused content. We have a packed calendar of events to help you develop new skills and refine your existing ones, sessions to enable you to feed into policy development and social events. With launch and closing events,… continue reading
LAPG hosts first-ever ‘virtual’ Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards to honour social justice champions
LAPG’s ground-breaking ‘lockdown LALYs’ were broadcast on social media, with the award winners joining the live event, via video link. The Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards are into their 18th year, but Covid-19 restrictions meant the 2020 event had to re-thought from scratch. LAPG CEO Chris Minnoch says: ‘We decided soon after lockdown… continue reading
LAPG Response to the Criminal Legal Aid Review: Accelerated Areas Consultation
We are acutely aware of the precipice on which criminal defence firms currently exist. We were encouraged by the idea of the Criminal Legal Aid Review (CLAR), and hopeful that there may be a commitment to pay legal aid practitioners fairly for work done. We understood that the process would take time, to ensure a… continue reading
LAPG COVID-19 Email Support Service – FAQs Edition 1 (25 May 2020)
We have released the first set of FAQs submitted to our COVID-19 email support service. The FAQ document has been designed as a resource for legal aid practitioners to keep up to date with and understand the practical application of the many measures that have been introduced or relaxed in response to the crisis. This… continue reading
Finalists announced for the 2020 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards
The criminal defence solicitor who led the way on county lines and modern slavery cases; plus the barrister behind the Supreme Court ruling in Samuels, are among 34 individuals and organisations shortlisted for this year’s LALY awards. Finalists of the Legal Aid Practitioners Group 2020 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards range from a… continue reading
Community Care Judicial Review and Legal Aid – The need for Delegated Functions and preventing work at risk
HLPA, LCN and LAPG have written to the Ministry of Justice calling for urgent changes to the JR regulations which are impeding access to justice during these extraordinary times, putting people at risk as the Government has removed statutory duties to assess and provide care to adults and has provided local government with wide discretionary… continue reading
LAPG launches new COVID-19 support service for legal aid providers
Service is free and open to all legal aid providers for business continuity and LAA contract compliance issues arising directly from the COVID-19 crisis LAPG has launched a dedicated email support service for legal aid providers. The service has been created with support from The Legal Education Foundation to assist with LAA contract compliance and… continue reading
Updated LAPG Guidance on what the Legal Aid Contract and LAA COVID-19 Guidance Allows
With thanks again to consultant Matthew Howgate, we have published the following updated guidance on Legal Aid Agency (LAA) contract compliance in the wake of the measures introduced by the LAA and the steps that providers are needing to take during the COVID-19 crisis. This guidance takes into account and seeks to interpret LAA guidance… continue reading
Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards – what is the impact of COVID-19?
We’ve released a statement setting out our contingency plans for LALY20 in the face of the current COVID-19 crisis. We think the LALYs will be more important this year than ever before. Legal aid firms and organisations are doing some incredible work under the most trying of circumstances and they deserve to be recognised and… continue reading
LAPG Guidance on what the Legal Aid Contract and LAA COVID-19 Guidance Allows
With thanks to consultant Matthew Howgate, we have published the following guidance on Legal Aid Agency (LAA) contract compliance in the wake of the measures introduced by the LAA and the steps that providers are needing to take during the COVID-19 crisis. This guidance takes into account and seeks to interpret LAA guidance released here… continue reading
Latest LAPG Update – COVID-19 and the legal aid sector
We have published our latest update, usually restricted to LAPG members, because it is critical at this time that practitioners from across the sector have access to as much information as possible. If you have any questions or comments about the content of the update please contact us: office@lapg.co.uk Download LAPG Update 8 of 2020… continue reading
COVID-19 – Issues facing legal aid providers and the action we need from the LAA
This is a crisis – not a looming crisis – a current crisis for legal aid COVID-19 is having a profound impact on society and legal aid providers are part of the fabric of the support network that is required to ensure we can get through this crisis. Legal aid providers are not (yet) considered… continue reading
General Election 2019: What are the politicians saying about justice and legal aid?
Not sure who to vote for on the 12th of December? If justice is a burning issue for you (as it is for us) then read this helpful summary prepared by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Legal Aid which summarises what all the main parties have said, or pledged, on justice issues and legal aid. … continue reading
Winners announced for the 2019 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards!
The winners of the 2019 LALY awards we announced at a ceremony in central London last night. Read our official press release here for all the details.
Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards – Finalists Announced!
The shortlist for this year’s Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards has been announced. As always, the finalists are an incredible group of legal aid lawyers and organisations, showcasing the life-changing work of those working in publicly-funded legal advice. For more information and a full list of finalists read the our press release here…. continue reading
It’s LALY time! Nominations now open for the 2019 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards
Nominations for the 17th Legal Aid Practitioners Group Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards are now open. Nomination period ends 30 April; winners to be announced at awards at ceremony on 10 July in central London. Download the full press release here Download the Flyer here The 2019 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year… continue reading
Latest legal aid statistics show worrying downward trend in access
The government released the official legal aid statistic on 13 December 2018, brining the data set up to date to 30 September 2018. Worryingly, crime expenditure and workload have both decreased. Fewer civil legal help matters have been started, continuing the trend since the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO). Mediation… continue reading
Duncan Lewis wins access to justice challenge against LAA and Lord Chancellor
Duncan Lewis Solicitors have successfully challenged the Legal Aid Agency’s refusal to backdate legal aid certificates, even where solicitors have made a legal aid application as promptly as possible and it is necessary to begin work in order to secure access to justice for a client before the Legal Aid Agency has granted a certificate…. continue reading
Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards – Finalists Announced!
The shortlist for this year’s Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards has been announced. As always, the finalists are an incredible group of legal aid lawyers and organisations, showcasing the life-changing work of those working in publicly-funded legal advice. Read the full press release here.
APPG on Legal Aid engages MPs and their caseworkers on how to help their constituents
The APPG on Legal Aid collaborated with organisations from across the advice sector to engage with MPs and their caseworkers at an event in Portcullis House on 1 November 2018. The event was organised to introduce MPs and their caseworkers to organisations that provide training, resources and referral sources to help MPs and caseworkers provide… continue reading
LAPG launches manifesto for legal aid.
Legal Aid Practitioners Group sets out detailed plan for undoing damage caused by LASPO cuts. The Legal Aid Practitioners Group has drawn on the expertise and experience of its members to produce a ‘pragmatic and clear’ manifesto for restoring access to justice, lost following the 2012 Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act. Writing… continue reading
APPG on Legal Aid – Karen Buck MP elected Chair
Karen Buck MP, the first ever Chair of the APPG on Legal Aid, was re-elected Chair at this morning’s meeting in Westminster. Elected as Vice-Chairs were Dominic Grieve MP, Sir Henry Bellingham, Andy Slaughter MP, Yvonne Fovargue MP and Alex Chalk MP. As co-sponsors of the APPG Legal Aid Practitioners Group and Young Legal Aid… continue reading
Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards Winners Announced!
The winners across 12 categories were named at a ceremony in central London on 5 July 2017. Read the full official press release here.
Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards 2017 – nominations now open!
Nominations for the 15th Legal Aid Practitioners Group Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards are now open. Following success last year, sponsorship for popular Legal Aid Newcomer award to be raised through crowdfunding again. Nomination period ends 28 April; Baroness Doreen Lawrence OBE to present awards at ceremony on 5 July… continue reading
New Legal Aid Manifesto prioritises vulnerable groups in society – children, disabled people and victims of domestic violence
The Legal Aid Practitioners Group (LAPG) has today launched the Manifesto for Legal Aid, which calls for immediate changes to be made to the legal aid system to improve access to justice for vulnerable groups. The Manifesto highlights those areas where changes to legal aid – particularly those brought in under the Legal Aid, Sentencing… continue reading
The All-Party Group (APG) on Legal Aid
For more information about the All Party Group, please go to https://www.apg-legalaid.org/
Wilson Solicitors is looking for a Billing Assistant
Wilson Solicitors is recruiting are recruiting Billing Assistants to support their Immigration, Family and Public Law and Human Rights departments. These positions will be based in their Tottenham office. The role will include costing files, creating Legal Aid claims and generally assisting in the smooth running of the billing department. The role also includes assisting… continue reading
Ro Jana contributes to the latest edition of the DLA’s Briefings journal
Our Director of Policy (Parliamentary Engagement), Ro Jana, has written a piece on the DLA’s Briefings journal. The article explores the precarious financial state the legal aid system, the impact on practitioners and access to justice. You can read her piece here
Coram is recruiting a Solicitor or Senior Solicitor (Child and Family Law)
Coram Children’s Legal Centre is looking for a solicitor or senior solicitor to join the existing team of two senior solicitors and a paralegal. The role sits within a wider team that includes education, community care and immigration and asylum lawyers. It will also benefit from CCLC’s position within the Coram group which includes Coram… continue reading
Coram is looking for a Legal and Policy Intern
Coram Children’s Legal Centre is recruiting a Legal and Policy Intern. The role will create an opportunity to develop key skills for a range of future careers, whilst also holding an important role in the team. The main purposes of the role are: Part of the Coram group, Coram Children’s Legal Centre is the UK’s… continue reading
Hopkin Murray Beskine is looking for a Paralegal
Hopkin Murray Beskine is recruiting a paralegal to assist their busy housing and public law team. Paralegals in their housing and public law team provide support in a range of interesting work, including judicial review, housing possession and disrepair claims in the County Court, and homelessness challenges and appeals. They have excellent resources including a… continue reading
Simpson Millar are recruiting a Grade A/B Solicitor (Public Law and Human Rights)
Simpson Millar are looking for a Grade A/B Solicitor to join their Public Law and Human Rights team in London. They are looking for someone with strong experience in human rights and public law work, including Civil Claims against public authorities and Inquest work, who is passionate about representing vulnerable clients and contributing to a… continue reading
Liberty is looking for a Legal Team Manager
Liberty is looking for a creative and strategic lawyer to join its legal team as a legal team manager. Strategic litigation is core to Liberty’s work. Their lawyers work closely with the rest of the organisation using casework and legal advice to help Liberty reach its strategic goals. You will be responsible for running a… continue reading
Shelter Cymru is recruiting a Team Leader (Western Bay)
Shelter Cymru is looking for a Team Leader (Western Bay). The post holder will be responsible for ensuring that high quality, responsive and effective housing advice services are delivered across the Western Bay region, which includes Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend. Housing advice services are delivered by phone, through outreach-based advice surgeries, and at… continue reading
Shelter is recruiting a Housing Solicitor or Paralegal – Outreach (Rochdale)
Shelter is recruiting a Housing Solicitor or Paralegal. Based with their partnering organisations, you will ensure you deliver high quality legal services through casework, the Housing Loss Prevention Advice Scheme and ensuring Legal Aid contract requirements and performance targets are met. Shelter exists to defend the right to a safe home. Because home is everything…. continue reading
Central England Law Centre is looking for a Family Caseworker or Solicitor
Central England Law Centre is recruiting an experienced caseworker or solicitor to join the team, supporting their clients across Coventry in the delivery of casework through the Law Centre’s Legal Aid contract. Central England Law Centre (CELC) provides a vital service to clients across Coventry and Birmingham, providing support for all aspects of family law… continue reading
Central England Law Centre is looking for a Housing Caseworker or Solicitor
Central England Law Centre is recruiting an experienced caseworker or solicitor to join the team, supporting their clients across Birmingham in the delivery of casework through the Law Centre’s Legal Aid contract. Central England Law Centre (CELC) provides a vital service to clients across Coventry and Birmingham, providing support for all aspects of housing law… continue reading
Coram is looking for an IRM Legal Advisor (Casual)
Coram is recruiting an IRM Legal Advisor to provide written legal advice to caseworkers, panel members and the Contract Manager about individual applications and well as ad hoc advice on occasions. Legal Advisers provide on average 2 pieces of advice weekly and are paid at an hourly rate claimed each month. Legal Advisers also need… continue reading
Coram is looking for a Senior Billing Officer and Coordinator
Coram is recruiting a Senior Billing Officer and Coordinator. This role will coordinate, oversee and supervise the Legal Practice Unit’s legal aid billing operations. Through systematic and efficient management, the post-holder will play an important role in CCLC’s financial and operational sustainability. Working with the Managing Director of Legal Practice, the Heads of Department and… continue reading
Dowse & Co are looking for a Housing Lawyer / Caseworker
Dowse & Co are expanding their Housing Law department by recruiting an enthusiastic solicitor/caseworker. They represent clients on a range of housing matters including possession actions, disrepair, homelessness, injunctions, unlawful eviction, leaseholder disputes and succession matters. They act almost exclusively for tenants and leaseholders. Dowse & Co has been a partnership for 125 years. They… continue reading
Release is looking for a Supervising Solicitor (Community Care)
Release is seeking to appoint a Supervising Solicitor for Community Care — with genuine flexibility for part‑time or full‑time working — to help shape and expand their legal services at the intersection of social justice and community care law, and harm reduction. The Supervising Solicitor (Community Care) – Legal Aid is a key role in shaping and strengthening Release’s legal… continue reading