20 July 2011

Legal Aid Bill - Access to justice is under attack

For those of us working in legal aid, the initial government Green Paper - Proposals for the Reform of Legal Aid in England and Wales - heralded a massive attack not only on our jobs, but also our clients, the welfare state and the principle of justice, writes Paul Heron.

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20 July 2011

Immigration Advice closure shows need for industrial struggle

One year after the closure of Refugee Migrant Justice (RMJ) in June 2010, the other main UK provider of free legal advice and representation to asylum seekers and migrant workers has now also been shut down, writes Eric Segal, former RMJ Unite rep.

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6 June 2011

Protests against cuts in legal aid

Up to 100 people attended a protest on Friday in Coventry city centre against the Con-Dem cuts to legal aid. This was just one of many protests that took place around the country...

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17 November 2010

Coalition turns back the clock on justice

THE COALITION government intends to virtually end legal aid in civil cases, with few exceptions. This devastating move will turn the clock back 60 years by denying justice to hundreds of thousands of people...

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Firefighters protest

17 June 2010

Demonstrate Against Likely Closure of Refugee and Migrant Justice - Defend Legal Aid

Refugee and Migrant Justice (RMJ), the largest provider of specialist legal advice for asylum seekers and other vulnerable migrants in England and Wales, went into administration on June 16 2010...

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17 March 2010

Cuts mean poorest people priced out of the legal system

Legal aid in crisis: "Do you think they'll evict me?" - this is the question I was asked recently at the County Court. I was the duty solicitor representing a housing association tenant who had £2,200 rent arrears. Usually...

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19 March 2009

Crisis in the legal aid system

SINCE LAST summer five law centres have closed down, and a specialist welfare benefit appeals service has closed its doors after 24 years serving many of London's most vulnerable people, writes Paul Heron.

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3 May 2007

Oppose legal aid contracts tooth and nail

As a retired legal aid solicitor I would like to welcome John Greene's article [in issue 482] on the effect of the proposals contained in the Carter Review of Procurement of Legal Services...

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19 April 2007

Cuts reduce advice for the people who most need help

THE ARTICLE in last week's the socialist by John Greene, on legal aid cuts, highlighted a growing problem that faces millions of working people - and not just in the areas he mentioned, but also in their claims for welfare b...

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12 April 2007

Why legal aid should be defended

WORKERS HAVE only ever won legal 'rights' through struggle. Even then, there is not much point in having these rights if you cannot assert them at court....

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