Legal aid rule change for home-owners on low incomes & domestic violence survivors

Changes to the legal aid rules have been laid in Parliament today that will allow more homeowners on low incomes to access legal aid. The rule change will particularly benefit survivors of domestic violence, with many more able to have legal representation in family proceedings, reducing the risk of being cross examined by their abusers

PLP to work on ESRC-funded project on algorithmic politics, administrative justice and Brexit

PLP is soon to begin work as a research partner on a new ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council) funded project, ‘Algorithmic Politics and Administrative Justice in the EU Settlement Scheme’. The project, which is being led by researchers at the University of Exeter, aims to: ‘analyse the process of administrative reform associated with Brexit,

COVID-19: Guidance on ‘paper determinations’ ruled ‘unlawful’

Blog post: Jo Hynes, Research Fellow, Public Law Project The Administrative Court recently ruled in favour of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI), in a case challenging a Covid-related Guidance Note as ultra vires. PLP provided a witness statement in support of the claimant. Read: The Law Society Gazette: President’s guidance for

More domestic violence survivors to access legal aid

PLP’s client ‘Claire’, a single parent and domestic abuse survivor, has overturned rules that prevented her from accessing legal aid. PLP lawyer Daniel Rourke has said that the High Court ruling of 24 November will improve access to justice for more survivors of domestic violence who are in poverty. The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) claimed

Medical Justice ‘no notice’ removals: Judgment handed down

The Court of Appeal today ruled in favour of Medical Justice in their challenge to the Home Office Judicial Review and Injunctions policy, also known as the ‘removal notice window’ policy. Background to today’s Judgment In 2019, Medical Justice applied for judicial review of the Home Office’s Judicial Review and Injunctions policy. This policy provided

PLP’s submission to the Independent Review of Administrative Law

PLP has published its response to the call for evidence issued by the Independent Review of Administrative Law. READ PLP’s submission to the Independent Review of Administrative Law READ PLP’s statement outlining constraints which mean the Review cannot provide a sound basis for reform of judicial review Our submission asserts that reform of judicial review

‘Tsunami’ of EU withdrawal laws ‘rubber stamped’: Latest PLP research

The process of leaving the EU has laid bare serious deficiencies in the UK’s system of law making, according to a report by the Public Law Project. READ: Plus ça change: Brexit and the flaws of delegated legislation system By Alexandra Sinclair and Dr Joe Tomlinson, Public Law Project The authors show that the UK’s withdrawal

Legal Aid for SEND representation: An emerging trend?

Latest ECF grant for SEND On 2 October 2020, the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) granted Exceptional Case Funding (ECF) for representation in the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Tribunal. The grant was made to a client of Linda Ewen, Supervising Solicitor in the education law team at GT Stewart Solicitors & Advocates, for representation

New report echoes concerns over digital support for online court users

Key concerns raised by PLP about digital support for those using online court services have been echoed by a recent report into the pilot assisted digital support service. The Good Things Foundation report published at the end of September found that those who provide the support service experience difficulties in separating legal advice from technical

EUSS ‘digital-only’ system creates real risk of harm: PLP report

The Public Law Project has warned that millions of EU citizens with settled status may face discrimination and other problems when looking for jobs and somewhere to live from June 2021 as they will have no physical or paper-based proof of their right to work and live in the UK. Read: Digital Immigration Status: A

Improving Exceptional Case Funding: Responding to COVID

Recent figures published by the Ministry of Justice show that the Covid-19 pandemic is having a significant impact on the number of legal aid applications for Exceptional Case Funding (ECF). Research published today by Public Law Project gives some indications as to why there has been a decrease in applications and calls for further measures

Reform of Judicial Review: Looking at the evidence

This week, Public Law Project is bringing together academics, practitioners, former judges and policy experts in the first in a series of roundtable seminars on evidence-based reform of judicial review. The seminars will be chaired by Dinah Rose QC, President of Magdalen College, University of Oxford, and Professor Paul Craig, University of Oxford, and will