header-logo header-logo

Half-baked reforms

17 May 2007 / David Burrows
Issue: 7273 / Categories: Opinion , Legal aid focus
printer mail-detail

David Burrows reports from the legal aid family law barricades

On 1 May 2007 the House of Commons Constitutional Affairs Select Committee published its report, Implementation of the Carter Review of Legal Aid, which the Law Society characterises as mirroring its own concerns and Resolution describes as “right on the money”.

By what criteria should the report be judged? Not first by the pocket of the lawyer. First must be the needs of the public, the people we advise and assist. We must be able to do so to a standard where clients are guaranteed a service of a good and, where need be, expert standard. But if that is not paid for then the lawyer will look elsewhere for his work: if you do not pay your dentist, builder, surgeon or plumber enough they won’t work for you. Reduce pay to subsistence levels and you get subsistence service; and your drains or your heart won’t work for long.

labour ideas

The story so far is that early in Tony Blair’s first term his former

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Serious injury teambolstered by high-profile partner hire

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Firm strengthens employment team with partner hire

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

Lawyers’ liability practice strengthened with partner appointment in London

NEWS
Ceri Morgan, knowledge counsel at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP, analyses the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Johnson v FirstRand Bank Ltd, which reshapes the law of fiduciary relationships and common law bribery
The boundaries of media access in family law are scrutinised by Nicholas Dobson in NLJ this week
Reflecting on personal experience, Professor Graham Zellick KC, Senior Master of the Bench and former Reader of the Middle Temple, questions the unchecked power of parliamentary privilege
Geoff Dover, managing director at Heirloom Fair Legal, sets out a blueprint for ethical litigation funding in the wake of high-profile law firm collapses
James Grice, head of innovation and AI at Lawfront, explores how artificial intelligence is transforming the legal sector
back-to-top-scroll