Judicial review, privatisation of the courts and legal apprenticeships are among 27 policy recommendations set out for the next government by the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx).
The measures, covering 11 policy areas, have been launched this week to coincide with the last party conferences before the May 2015 General Election.
They include a promise not to privatise court functions—in May 2013, the Ministry of Justice floated an idea to privatise the courts, using a Royal Charter to maintain their independence while hiving off the court buildings and staff contracts to private companies. However, Justice Secretary Chris Grayling appeared to rule out privatisation in a statement in March.
On judicial review, CILEx wants costs restrictions on oral permission hearings to be lifted and a guarantee that the permission stage of applications will be funded, and no change to the current discretionary powers of judges. It calls for an immediate review of the legal aid reforms that were introduced in April 2013, and a government education drive to inform the public on what legal aid is still available. It also wants age restrictions lifted on legal apprenticeships so that over-24 year olds are eligible for funding, and further development of the apprenticeship system.
CILEx president Frances Edwards says: “We ask politicians and policy formers of all parties to adopt these proposals that will help build skills to maintain the UK legal sector’s global competiveness, and support vulnerable people to ensure they can meaningfully access justice.”
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