The Government has recently announced proposals to introduce price competitive tendering (PCT) to the criminal Legal Aid market. These proposals are terrifying lawyers nationwide, not just because they will see at least 1200 of the 1600 firms that currently hold contracts to undertake criminal...
An Old Bailey Judge has been named as the first Chief Coroner for England and Wales. The appointment of HHJ Peter Thornton QC, who oversaw the inquest into the death of Ian Tomlinson, was announced by the Ministry of Justice this week. Plans to appoint a Chief Coroner were scrapped in 2010 when...
There have been reports this morning that an independent parliamentary enquiry into the law which protects victims of stalking will deliver a conclusion today that the current legislation is not fit for purpose. The enquiry will suggest that there be a fundamental reform by the implementation of...
Once again, the right to elect trial by jury in respect of certain offences is under threat. In reform proposals due to be published in a white paper next month, some 70,000 cases involving theft, assault, burglary and drugs offences will have juries axed; saving an estimated £30 million....
I'm sure most will be aware that on the 15th of November 2010, Kenneth Clarke made a statement to the Commons that it is his intention to cut the Legal Aid budget by up to £400million over the next decade. Oh my goodness (or words to that effect!) I hear you say. Where does that leave...