Access to Justice News
#GeneralElection2019 - Human Rights: what do the parties say? Excellent infographic by Rights Info
Published 27/11/2019 by Claire Gilbert
THE GENERAL ELECTION & HUMAN RIGHTS Rights Info is looking at each of the party manifestos and has picked out the key policies relating to human rights. There are huge issues in this election around access to justice and protections of rights. This useful summary brings together the pledges in one place. Rights Info will be updating their page as new manifestos are released.
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.
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.
Supreme Court decision on Human Rights duties for Courts & Local Authorities - DWP & “Bedroom Tax”
Published 13/11/2019 by Claire Gilbert
The Supreme Court clarified today that Courts & Local Authorities can set aside government regulations that are incompatible with human rights legislation. The case stemmed from challenges to the 2013 housing benefit changes widely labelled the 'bedroom tax'and was supported by human rights organisations Liberty, Child Poverty Action Group and Public Law Project (PLP), with international firm Herbert Smith Freehills. PLP director Jo Hickman said: 'This judgment re-affirms that people should be able to enforce their human rights under the European Convention on Human Rights in any court or tribunal, without having to bring separate legal proceedings - just as the Human Rights Act says they should be able to.
Court unit which helps reunite families faces closure
Published 26/06/2018
Family drug and alcohol courts (FDAC) ‘one of the most important developments in family justice in the last 40 years’ will close in September due to lack of funds. Independent evaluations show that FDAC saves local authorities who support the problem-solving model £2.30 for every £1 spent.
Potential areas of focus for the LIP Network
Published 08/05/2018
New ‘breathing space’ debt respite scheme for people experiencing a mental health crisis
Published 08/05/2018
Rachel Braverman introduces the work of Money and Mental Health, a charity committed to breaking the link between financial difficulty and mental health problems.
FLOWS – Finding Legal Options for Women Survivors
Published 08/05/2018
RCJ Advice, one of the LIP Support Strategy Partners, has been funded by the latest round of the Tampon Tax Fund to expand access to legal advice for women experiencing domestic abuse through the provision of phone and email consultancy advice, digital tools, and an online forum for the front line workers who assist women. Alison Lamb, Chief Executive at RCJ Advice, provides an introduction to the project.
Update from workshop on working with distressed Litigants in Person
Published 08/05/2018
On 23rd April we arranged a free one day workshop on working with distressed Litigants in Person. Over 90 people registered to attend but unfortunately others were unable to join us as the event was oversubscribed. Given the high level of interest, we have provided an update on the workshop below together with next steps to ensure everyone in the LIP Network is informed about our work.
How to use symbology and mapping to tell your story
Published 08/05/2018
For anyone interested in trying to tell their story using maps, Alison Davis-Holland, GIS/Data Manager at the Self-Represented Litigation Network in the US, has written an article explaining how to use effective symbology to make a powerful first impression.
Changes to the LIP Network Team
Published 27/03/2018
We say farewell to Ella Playfair and hello to Martha de la Roche
UK Administrative Justice Institute (UKAJI) : A research resource for everyday justice
Published 01/08/2017
(Author: Margaret Doyle, Senior Research Fellow, UK Administrative Justice Institute) ‘What is administrative justice?’ is one of the pages on UKAJI’s website most viewed by visitors. Does this suggest that readers don’t know what it means, or is it simply difficult to define?
International access to justice news
Published 21/06/2017
Click here for a list of international sources for news on access to justice.
OpenJustice & OpenDemocracy: An access to justice crisis
Published 10/04/2017
OpenJustice (hosted by OpenDemocracy) have recently published a series of articles focusing on the issues affecting people’s ability to seek a remedy through the courts: to stand up to bullies and protect themselves against the powerful. The series looks at why access to justice matters, the impact that the legal aid cuts have had and possible solutions to the access to justice crisis.
