Policy and Reform Workstream
How the global pandemic is building an Australian court system for the future
Published 05/06/2020
The Grata Fund have produced a new report discussing how COVID-19 has forced Australian courts into various stages of closure and adoption of new technologies. While these changes have created some issues, they have also seen technological adaptations that without a pandemic could have taken years, heralding new opportunities and new risks for access to justice.
Legal Aid: the review of LASPO (part one)
Published 14/05/2020
This Commons Library briefing paper provides an overview of the post-implementation review of the changes made to legal aid in England and Wales by Part 1 of LASPO.
Rapid response consultation: Impact of COVID-19 measures on the civil justice system
Published 04/05/2020
The Civil Justice Council has commissioned an independent review to gather feedback on the impact of COVID measures on the civil justice system. Add your views via survey, consultation response or consultation meeting.
Report: Judicial Review in the Administrative Court during the COVID-19 pandemic
Published 27/04/2020
The Public Law Project have published their report highlighting the first set of preliminary empirical findings concerning remote justice during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Family law - Briefing for Parliamentarians
Published 27/04/2020
Together with the Litigants in Person Support Strategy partners and the Advice Services Alliance, LawWorks has produced a briefing on family law issues for MPs and Peers.
Refugee Action Coronavirus Asylum Handbook
Published 06/04/2020
The Refugee Action Coronavirus Asylum Handbook draws together frontline organisations’ current and longer-term approaches and strategies to adapting their services and delivering support. It is not designed to be a service directory or map operational updates but it will signpost to the excellent advice, resources and policy updates that have been produced and are already in the public domain.
New ‘Know how’ resource: Court and tribunal hearings and COVID -19
Published 03/04/2020
Law for Life have just created an Advicenow 'know-how' linking to guidance that is out so far on video hearings.
Mapping our needs through COVID-19; what we need now, soon and in the future
Published 31/03/2020
Planning for the future can be difficult at the best of times but add a global pandemic and a complete restructure of the way we interact as a society into the mix and it gets a little trickier. This blog sets out things for us to think about any plan for over the next crucial six months.
Launch of Remote Courts Worldwide
Published 30/03/2020
The Society for Computers and Law has joined with HMCTS and the Tech Nation, LawTech Delivery Panel to establish Remote Courts Worldwide, a global initiative to help public court services cope with coronavirus and support the development of remote alternatives to traditional court hearings
A message from the CEO of HMCTS
Published 27/03/2020
A message from the CEO of HMCTS on the temporary changes to the way in which courts and tribunals will operate during the COVID-19 pandemic.
NearlyLegal blog and resources
Published 25/03/2020
For all things housing law check out the specialist Nearly Legal website for England, run by solicitors and barristers practising in the field. The site provides information, updates and discussion on housing and landlord & tenant law. Issues covered include homelessness, possession and forfeiture, unlawful eviction, disrepair and housing fitness, regulation and licensing, service and major works charges, right to manage and anything else that interests us. Contents include frequent case reports, updates on statute law, guides and key documents.
#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.
Housing Law - Findings on proposal to abolish s21 “No Fault Evictions” - by Frontline Network
Published 13/11/2019 by Claire Gilbert
Frontline Network ran a seven-question survey, asking frontline workers for their views on repealing s21 of the Housing Act 1988 (No Fault Evictions). The findings confirmed that frontline workers strongly believe landlords should no longer be able to evict tenants at short notice, and without good reason. Key Findings: * 73% of frontline workers believed that Section 21 (Housing Act 1988) should be repealed, in contrast to 12% who didn’t (15% were unsure). * Most significantly, 84% of frontline workers stated they have supported individuals who have been made homeless as a result of receiving a Section 21 eviction notice. * A further 75% of frontline workers believe that Section 21 (Housing Act 1988) has either a negative or very negative impacted upon their ability to prevent homelessness. * Most frontline workers, 71%, believed that repealing Section 21 (Housing Act 1988) would have a positive or very positive impact on their ability to prevent homelessness in the future.
LSB event - Initial Findings on Legal Needs and Capability
Published 16/10/2019
The Legal Services Board will be talking about its initial high level findings from the largest ever legal needs survey in England & Wales on 29th October.
Homelessness survey 2019: How you can help
Published 01/10/2019
Homeless Link’s Annual Review: Support for Single Homeless People in England provides a comprehensive picture of the state of the homelessness sector and is the only data source of its kind available on homelessness services in England. It relies on help from its members and other frontline services to collect data and present information on the current service provision for people experiencing homelessness in England. If you work in the sector, your help is invaluable.
Law Society report: Technology, access to justice and the rule of law
Published 01/10/2019 by Lisa Naylor
The Law Society's report presents a thorough and interesting look at the impact of technology on the access to justice sector and what can be done to make improvements in the future.
Bar Council Legal Reporting Awards
Published 18/01/2019 by Stacey Lamb
Article on what it's like to be a litigant in person is among the winners of the Bar Council Legal Reporting Awards.
What is the scale of disinvestment in access to justice for individuals?
Published 21/11/2018 by Laura Keane
As part of Justice Week, a research report commissioned by the Bar Council of England and Wales revealed that funding for Justice has been cut by 27% in the past decade despite government expenditure increasing by 13% since the 2008 financial crisis.
Indian High Court IT Initiatives
Published 07/09/2018
The Indian Punjab and Haryana High Court has begun utilising IT to support litigants, lawyers and judges in a variety of ways.
Q&A with Jess Mant
Published 26/07/2018
Cardiff University Lecturer, Jess Mant discusses what inspired her research on litigants in person in the family court.
