Getting to know the LAPG Team – Andrea Shumaker
Andrea Shumaker As the Learning & Development Co-Ordinator, I am responsible for running, improving, and expanding LAPGs training offerings. What do you do? Any and everything training! If you’ve taken our Legal Aid Supervision Course, Introduction to Civil Legal Aid Course, or any session of the Certificate in Practice Management Course in the last year… continue reading
Getting to know the LAPG Team – Anna Neira Quesada
Hello hello! My complete name is Anna Neira Quesada. To those of you who are wondering, no, Neira is not my middle name. One of the perks of being Spanish is that I get to have two surnames, my dad’s going first (Neira) and then my mum’s (Quesada). Revolutionary feminists, but not that much. I’m… continue reading
Getting to know the LAPG Team – Rohini Teather
Rohini Teather. Head of Parliamentary Affairs, or rather I drink tea and coffee with MPs in Big Ben as my daughter used to say. Which is more or less an accurate idea of the role. Part of my role is running the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Legal Aid which conducts independent research on Access to… continue reading
Getting to know the LAPG Team – Chris ‘Nick Fury’ Minnoch
Job Description? C.E.O of L.A.P.G, the successor to S.H.I.E.L.D (the Society of Helpful, Independent, Ethical Legal Dogooders). What do you do? I provide an environment in which my team can use their various superpowers and talents to counter the forces of HYDRA (the department within the MOJ which implements the ‘Hope Your Dispute Resolves Anyway’… continue reading
LAPG Announces Winners of the 2022 LALY Awards
Legal Aid Practitioners Group announces winners of 2022 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards at first in-person ceremony since 2019. ‘Revered’ housing barrister; solicitor acting in Colston 4 case; and lawyer specialising in ‘Kafkaesque’ Special Immigration Appeals Commission work honoured by LALY judges. Campaign group Young Legal Aid Lawyers and Marcia Willis Stewart QC… continue reading
LAPG publishes response to MOJ consultation on the future of housing possession duty schemes
We have today published our response to the Ministry of Justice’s consultation: Housing Legal Aid: the way forward – A consultation on the future of the Housing Possession Court Duty Scheme. In our response we acknowledge the positive and constructive concepts mooted by the MOJ to improve both the long-term viability of duty schemes and… continue reading
Housing Possession Court Duty Schemes – LAPG response to the LAA’s consultation
The government is set to lift the stay on housing possession cases on 23 August 2020. Many have voiced considerable concern about the potential flood of evictions that will arise once court proceedings resume due to the economic impact of the pandemic. The MoJ and HMCTS have been working closely with legal aid providers and… continue reading
LAPG makes four special awards, to honour the ‘social justice heroes of the pandemic’
‘We are proud to recognise colleagues whose decisive actions at the start of the outbreak and since have helped save many lives,’ says LAPG CEO Chris Minnoch. Three individuals and one organisation are being recognised by LAPG during this uniquely challenging year (further details about each winner, below): – Richard Atkinson, partner at Tuckers Solicitors,… continue reading
LAPG Response to the LAA Consultation: Payments on Account
This consultation was launched by the LAA on 2 June 2020 and followed intervention by LAPG and other bodies requesting more flexibility over the POA system and other forms of interim or staged payment mechanisms to alleviate cash flow concerns for legal aid providers. The LAA has proposed an amendment to the Costs Assessment Guidance… continue reading
LAPG Response to the LAA Consultation: Amendments to the Cost Assessment Guidance (to Facilitate LAA Assessment of all Civil Bills)
The COVID-19 crisis has had a significant impact on the functioning of the court system, with all courts initially closing and then a partial and gradual resumption of hearings in different geographic and practice areas. Over the past few months, some have re-opened but with limited capacity to manage the backlog of cases. One consequence… continue reading
Lord Chancellor responds on access to justice for people in custody during the COVID-19 pandemic
The Lord Chancellor has responded to a join letter from LAPG and the Association of Prison Lawyers raising concerns about practical arrangements for private legal consultations with people in custody during the current ‘lockdown’ period. During this time people in prison continue to have urgent legal matters across all areas of law that require them… continue reading
Latest LAPG Member Update (11 of 2020)
During these unprecedented and worrying times we are publishing some of our Member Updates as and when they contain information of general use to the sector. Update 11 of 2020 covers: LAPG requests urgent financial relief for providers from the LAA New LAPG Covid-19 helpline for legal aid providers to start imminently DG Legal FAQs… continue reading
LAPG is seeking new members for our Advisory Committee
We’re recruiting new members to our Advisory Committee of committed and expert legal aid practitioners and practice managers. The Advisory Committee supports our Board and staff team to: Set our strategy and objectives; Carry out policy and campaigning work; Engage with Government and respond to consultations and other issues; Answer queries from our Members; Organise… continue reading
LALY awards 2020 launched!
The 2020 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards have opened for nominations! We are now accepting nominations for this year’s LALY awards. Read the official press release here, which provides details of the three new award categories. This year’s award ceremony takes place in central London on 7 July 2020. Ticket for the ceremony… continue reading
LAPG’s response to the HPCDS consultation
Read LAPG’s response to the Ministry of Justice consultation: ‘Housing Possession Court Duty Scheme: Towards a More Sustainable Service’ We broadly support the proposals, but raise concerns about the need for and impact of price competitive tendering on travel costs (while noting that paying travel costs is a welcome proposal) and wider concerns about court… continue reading
LAPG Membership for 2020
Join now and save on our Early Bird offer It’s time for LAPG Members to renew their membership for 2020. Our membership period is annual and starts on 1 January 2020. We’re currently running an Early Bird offer, with significant discounts across all of our membership tiers. It has been another incredibly busy year for… continue reading
Is there a ‘culture of refusal’ within the LAA? We need your views
In recent weeks we have been working with a group of experienced legal aid lawyers to try to get a better understanding of what appears to be a growing and pressing problem: the apparent ‘culture of refusal’ within the LAA. We have agreed that to gauge the extent of this issue we need a broader… continue reading
Notice of LAPG’s AGM – 3 October 2019 in Birmingham
All LAPG Members are cordially invited to attend our Annual General Meeting: Thursday, 3 October 2019 5.00-6.00pm Conference Aston, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET This year’s AGM marks a significant milestone in LAPG’s development. Following a comprehensive governance review we are seeking to create new and strengthen existing governance processes. We will be asking members to pass… continue reading
MOJ Publishes the LASPO Post-Implementation Review – Does It Go Far Enough?
Press Release Ministry of Justice’s Post-Implementation Review of Part 1 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) The report is an overdue recognition of the crisis in access to justice, triggered by LASPO. Many of the recommendations for the future are positive, but much more is needed to remedy the… continue reading
LAPG Appoints A New Leadership Team
With Director Carol Storer OBE stepping down on 20 November 2018, LAPG’s Committee has appointed a new leadership team to steer LAPG into the future. Chris Minnoch steps up to the role of CEO, with Kate Pasfield joining from Swain & Co. to take on the role of Director of Strategy. Read the full press… continue reading
Legal Action Group interviews outgoing LAPG Director Carol Storer
Read Catherine Baksi’s interview with Carol Storer, Remaining diplomatic in a turbulent decade, here.
LAPG Manifesto Reaches New Heights
Costs firm John M Hayes, great supporters of LAPG’s work over many years, recently climbed Mount Snowden to raise money for access to justice and the London Legal Support Trust. And on top of that, they lugged up copies of LAPG’s Manifesto for Legal Aid! An excellent effort by the JMH team! Read more about their… continue reading
LAPG Annual Conference and Dinner 2018 – Book Now!
Bookings are now open for the LAPG Annual Conference 2018 in London on 5 October 2018. Book your place here. The conference is packed full of useful content for practitioners, practice managers and all those interested in legal aid and access to justice. Download the flyer here for the full programme. The offline booking form is attached… continue reading
LAPG’s Director, Carol Storer, is stepping down
After 10 years, Carol Storer is stepping down as Director of the Legal Aid Practitioners Group on 20 November 2018. Under Carol’s excellent directorship LAPG has made a huge contribution as a representative body, despite the difficult economic climate. With skill, energy and dedication Carol has helped LAPG to support legal aid practitioners so that… continue reading
We’ve launched our 2017 Annual Review
On 26th April 2018 LAPG held a reception to launch its second Annual Review. Baroness Helena Kennedy QC spoke about the importance of legal aid work and the rule of law. She remembered once being asked if she was the barrister who represented ‘women and other criminals’. Co–chairs Jenny Beck and Nicola Mackintosh QC(Hon) referred… continue reading
(Another) busy day for LAPG
LAPG Director Carol Storer explains what LAPG staff and Committee members (who support us in their ‘spare time’) do on a typical day to fight for a more accessible and sustainable legal aid system. Direct engagement with the MOJ over the LASPO review and LAA over operational issues, appearing before parliamentary committees, organising the LALY awards, delivering training, supporting… continue reading
LALY awards 2018 has been launched!
We are delighted to announce that nominations are now open for the 2018 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards. 12 categories feature this year, and for the first time we are recognising the vital contribution made by practice managers. Read the full press release here. The press release contains full details of the award… continue reading
It’s a great time to join or renew LAPG membership
With our new membership year commencing on the 1st of January 2018 now is the perfect time to renew your membership or join for the first time. Our members benefit from our advice, support, training, events and regular updates. But we also play a leading role in campaigning for a fairer and more accessible legal aid system. We… continue reading
LAA to roll out new Provider Activity Reports
The LAA will shortly roll out a new report to all legal aid contract holders setting out key information about contract performance. The LAA announcement about the new Provider Activity Report follows: Civil/crime news: rollout of contract performance reports ‘Provider Activity Reports’ (PARs) showing key contract data and highlighting performance against contractual requirements are to… continue reading
Research casts doubt on efficacy of telephone advice for social welfare law clients
Dr Marie Burton, within her PhD thesis: Calling for Justice: Comparing telephone and face-to-face advice in social welfare Law (LSE, 2016), has found that: There are significant consequences of replacing face-to-face advice with telephone advice in social welfare law. These consequences can seriously disadvantage many social welfare clients, particularly those who are more vulnerable and… continue reading
Bach Commission “The Right to Justice” Report out today
Over the last two years, LAPG co-chair Nicola Mackintosh QC (Hon), committee members Julie Bishop and Laura Janes and director Carol Storer have been sitting on the Bach Commission. We heard from more than 100 individuals and organisations. The commission has found that cuts to legal aid have created a two-tier justice system where the… continue reading
Notice of LAPG AGM – 6 October 2017
All members are invited to attend LAPG’s AGM at our Annual Conference on 6 October 2017 at Herbert Smith Freehill’s in London. The AGM is open to all members, not just those attending the conference. Full details and the AGM agenda can be found here. If you would like to join LAPG’s Committee please contact… continue reading
LAPG Pop-Up Courses – Prepare for the 2018 Civil Tender Process – Book Now
The LAA has now announced their plans for the tender process for 2018 Civil Legal Aid contracts. We will be running courses designed to help you to understand: The tender process for bidding for a 2018 Civil Contract The changes that will be introduced by the 2018 Civil Contract This is essential content for anyone… continue reading
LAPG Annual Conference and Dinner 2017 – Book Now!
Bookings are now open for the LAPG Annual Conference 2017 in London on 6 October 2017. Book your place here. The conference is packed full of useful content for practitioners, practice managers and all those interested in legal aid and access to justice. Download the flyer here for the full programme. The offline booking form is… continue reading
LAPG writes to the new Lord Chancellor
LAPG Co-Chairs, Jenny Beck and Nicola Mackintosh, QC (Hon) and LAPG Director, Carol Storer OBE, have written to the Right Hon David Lidington following his appointment as Lord Chancellor. 13 June 2017 Dear The Right Hon David Lidington MP, We congratulate you on being appointed Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice. We would welcome the… continue reading
LALY Awards 2017 – Shortlist Announced!!!
We are delighted to announce the finalists for the 2017 LALY awards. We received many exceptional nominations and the finalists are of the highest calibre. Full details of all the finalists are contained with the official press release here. This year’s ceremony will take place at etc.venues in central London on 5th of July. To purchase tickets… continue reading
Welcome changes imminent to DV regulations
After years of campaigning and litigation the government now seems ready to introduce much-needed changes to the regulations limiting access to legal aid for victims of domestic abuse. The Guardian has trailed MOJ plans to remove the time limit and expand the types of acceptable evidence of abuse, which would increase access to legal aid to… continue reading
CCMS survey – please help us understand how to improve CCMS
We’ve launched a survey to capture user experiences of CCMS. Our members are consistently telling us of issues they experience with the system. We also know that a large number of applications are being processed. We’d like to hear from anyone who is using the system so that we can analyse what needs to be… continue reading
LAPG Annual Dinner
Birmingham on Thursday 8th October 2015 – 19:00 to 23:00 LAPG’s annual dinner is once again sponsored by Accesspoint and will be held at Le Truc in Birmingham. The meal is open to everyone – whether a speaker, delegate or a legal aid practitioner too busy to come to the conference the next day. Booking… continue reading
LAPG Annual Conference
Birmingham on Friday 9th October 2015 – 09:00 – 18:00 Legal Aid: The Future These are worrying times for everyone carrying out legal aid work. That sentence could have been used for any conference in the last twenty years. And may well have been. To carry out legal aid work now you have to absolutely… continue reading
SOLICITOR WHO FOUGHT CARE HOME CLOSURES IS MADE HONORARY QC
LAPG co-chair Nicola Mackintosh recognised for trailblazing work on behalf of vulnerable clients Nicola Mackintosh, a leading community care lawyer and sole practitioner in south London has been appointed Honorary Queen’s Counsel, a rare honour which recognises lawyers making a major contribution to the development of the law. Nicola has been a legal aid lawyer… continue reading