Research Briefing
Who will be the UK's new judge for the European Court of Human Rights? This Commons Library briefing paper looks at the two-stage process, the UK candidates, and recent criticisms and reforms.
Research Briefing
This Commons Library briefing paper looks at 'no win, no fee' funding arrangements in the UK. Following the withdrawal of civil legal aid, many litigants are reliant on such arrangements for access to justice. Unable to afford lawyers' fees, they enter into agreements whereby they will not pay their lawyers should they lose but must pay an extra success fee in the event that they are successful.
Research Briefing
On 28 January 2016 the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Michael Gove, told the House of Commons that his department would no longer pursue the introduction of the ‘dual contracting’ scheme for the provision of criminal litigation services in England and Wales. He also announced the suspension of a second reduction in solicitors’ fees. The change in policy ended the long-running dispute between the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and the legal profession over changes to criminal legal aid.
Research Briefing
Many prisoners enter prison with a faith and others find one while in prison. Few of these prisoners will be “radicalised” or become involved in extremism or terrorist activity, although (obviously) those that do present huge challenges to the authorities.
Research Briefing
The LASPO Act 2012 reduced the scope of civil legal aid. Controversy still surrounds its provision for private family law cases where, to be eligible, people seeking legal aid must provide evidence of domestic abuse.
Research Briefing
This briefing paper analyses court and tribunal closures in England and Wales.
Research Briefing
The existing police funding arrangements have been criticised as being complex and lacking transparency. In 2015 the Government consulted on proposals for reform of police funding in England and Wales. These reforms have been delayed. This briefing looks at existing arrangements for police funding in all parts of the UK and explains the proposed new funding formula for England and Wales.
Research Briefing
Controversy surrounds the availability of legal aid, which (subject to the usual eligibility criteria) may be available in England and Wales for people outside the UK to make civil claims against UK armed forces.
Debate Pack
A debate on safety in youth custody will be held on Wednesday 20 January 2016 at 14.30 in Westminster Hall. The member in charge of the debate is Judith Cummins.
Research Briefing
This briefing paper is produced prior to the Report Stage of the Psychoactive Substances Bill 2015-16.
Debate Pack
A Westminster Hall debate on access to justice for vulnerable people has been scheduled for Tuesday 19 January 2016 at 0930hrs. The Member in charge of the debate is Stephen Kinnock.
Research Briefing
The available evidence indicates that the proportion of litigants appearing before the civil and family courts in England and Wales without legal representation (litigants in person, also sometimes called self-represented litigants) has increased since the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 took many civil and private law children and family cases out of scope for legal aid from 1 April 2013. What does this mean, both for the litigants and for the courts?
Research Briefing
Changes to civil legal aid have reduced spending, but whether they have increased costs elsewhere or added to the difficulties people may face in obtaining help with legal problems remains controversial.
Research Briefing
A recent judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), in the case of Delvigne, led to media headlines claiming it was lawful for Britain to ‘impose a voting ban on prisoners convicted of serious crimes’. However, the law regarding prisoner voting in France is substantially different to that in the UK.
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