Projects
Call for evidence: Very High Cost Cases (VHCCs) - delays and other problems?
Published 20/11/2019 by Claire Gilbert
The Bar Council Remuneration Committee is reviewing issues faced by barristers across all civil Very High Cost Cases (VHCCs) excluding family VHCCs, including late payments. that you have been experiencing, with the intention of raising the issue with the Legal Aid Agency. The review is specifically concerned with delays, but other issues should also be raised. Deadline for responses has been extended to Thursday 28th November.
Legal Reporting Awards - competition now open! (Bar Council annual award)
Published 20/11/2019 by Claire Gilbert
Calling all Journalists - The Bar Council's 28th Legal Reporting Awards competition has opened. The competition is open to print/online and broadcast journalists in recognition of the media's role in promoting a greater understanding of the law to the public. The winning entries in each category will be awarded £1,000 in prize money. Entries close 2 December 2019 23:59pm.
Lesson for funders – public support for Human Rights must be cultivated
Published 20/11/2019 by Claire Gilbert
The Thomas Paine Initiative has called on funders to help capture the public’s hearts and minds, and counteract the threat to democracy from populist leaders. “Public opinion cannot be left to chance”, and communications strategy must be nurtured“at every stage” of the grant making process.
Is there a ‘culture of refusal’ within the LAA? Legal Action Group needs your views - by 15th November.
Published 13/11/2019 by Claire Gilbert
Is there a ‘culture of refusal’ within the LAA? Legal Action Group needs your views- by 15th November.
Help! Charity seeking Immigration Solicitors to help in mapping undocumented migrants before Brexit
Published 13/11/2019 by Claire Gilbert
The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, a charity that has fought hard to dismantle the government's 'hostile environment' policy, is asking immigration solicitors for help to map the UK's undocumented migrant population ahead of Brexit. JCWI said: 'For our campaign to really achieve the impact we'd like, we need a rock solid understanding of the undocumented population. No one knows better than immigration lawyers the complexity and narrowness of existing routes to documentation..."
New funding for support with problem gambling recognising affected women - with GamCare
Published 13/11/2019 by Claire Gilbert
GamCare is a charity offering advice and support around problem gambling, offering a helpline, online forum and a range of treatments. GamCare has recently received funding for a new programme to reach more vulnerable women affected by gambling problems across England, Scotland and Wales. Each year around 30% of callers to the National Gambling HelpLine are women, and the number of calls has increased significantly over the last five years. Approximately half of women call about their own gambling and half about someone else’s gambling, and around 21% of clients in GamCare treatment services are female.
Watch! Video of Solicitor General on how to make Pro Bono Costs Orders
Published 13/11/2019 by Claire Gilbert
How much do you know about Pro Bono Costs Orders? Watch our video of the Solicitor General talking about Pro Bono Costs
Survey for Immigration Practitioners on Paths to Regularisation - still open
Published 06/11/2019 by Claire Gilbert
The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants is still collecting responses to a short survey aimed at immigration practitioners who represent or advise undocumented migrants seeking to regularise their status in the UK. They are collecting this data to inform their project looking at how best to advocate for new and better paths to regularisation. If you have any questions, please contact zoe.gardner@jcwi.org.uk. The "Routes to Regularisation" Survey should take around 5 minutes. All answers are anonymous.
It’s PRO BONO WEEK! Are you going to one of our events?
Published 06/11/2019 by Claire Gilbert
Pro Bono Week - We have a calendar of events all week with something for everyone. Let's celebrate and promote pro bono legal work, with networking and knowledge sharing opportunities to help your career. Get along to a pro bono week event and find out more about local opportunities that could benefit your organisation.
Event: “This Can Happen” - Mental Health in the Workplace - 25th November
Published 06/11/2019
This Can Happen - award winning conference on Mental Health in the Workplace - returns on 25th November, attracting delegates from 150+ companies to share, learn, and discuss practical solutions for dealing with workplace mental health. The UK's largest corporate mental health event features 20+ sessions and over 80 speakers from diverse industries and will address critical issues such as The Future Workplace, Faith & Diversity, Grief, Post Natal Depression and the Importance of Internal Communications.Podcasts also available on website.
New study of the “lawtech ecosystem” - funding awarded to Oxford’s Saïd Business School
Published 06/11/2019 by Claire Gilbert
A new study by Oxford's Saïd Business School will be launched to study the lawtech 'ecosystem'. The 18-month project will 'map the movement of people and finance in and out of the system,' and aim to enhance the innovation and startup scene by identifying principal players. The government's Economic and Social Research Council has provided £213,000 funding. The project will complement existing University of Oxford research, also funded by the research council, which is seeking to ’unlock the potential for AI for English law’.
New report - Devolution of justice in Wales?
Published 06/11/2019
New 556 page report by Commision on Justice in Wales has made 78 recommendations for reform, concluding that that Wales should take over control of both policy and funding from Westminster. Recommendations include: A new justice department of the Welsh government led by a cabinet minister, a Welsh High Court and Court of Appeal, and a criminal legal aid system run on ’Nordic’ public defender lines.
Law Society releases introductory guide to Law Tech
Published 16/10/2019
The Law Society has released an introductory guide to lawtech which will help solicitors and others delivering legal services to consider the merits of technology in their professional practice.
Social Change Conversation Toolkit by SRANE and Just Fair
Published 16/10/2019
JustFair and SRANE (Social Rights Alliance North East) have produced a toolkit for bringing people together to discuss social change. With a tagline "Talk.Act.Change." the toolkit offers an agenda and methodology for holding meetings on social issues and working towards change.
New legal advice clinic launching in Salford
Published 08/10/2019
Later this month, Salford University plans to launch a new legal advice clinic in which second and third year law students will offer advice on employment, housing and family matters. Supervision will come from the university's academic staff plus two local law firms.
Avoid Legal Jargon with ‘Looked-After’ Children - guide for lawyers
Published 25/09/2019 by Claire Gilbert
Campaign groups, including the Youth Justice Legal Centre, the Howard League for Penal Reform, and Just for Kids Law, have published best practice guidance for criminal practitioners on effective advocacy for Looked-After children at the police station.
LawCare to pilot new wellbeing app for lawyers
Published 22/05/2019
Do clients prefer online contact to speaking with lawyers?
Published 03/05/2019 by Stacey Lamb
Research by mmadigital shows that cost and lack of understanding of legal services could see consumer clients try to avoid direct contact with lawyers.
Adjartey v Central Division of the Housing Court
Published 12/04/2019
An acknowledgement of the important role that services such as lawyer for the day programs, court service centers, court clerks and self help materials play.
Service expands to meet increased demand for affordable advice
Published 08/01/2019
In response to an increased demand for employment law and discrimination services across England and Wales Job Law have recently welcomed Azra Choudry as a new member of their team.
