Research

Supporting systems changers through the use of collaborative legal approaches

Dr Jacqui Kinghan and Professor Lisa Vanhala

This report identifies key lessons from the first two years of a strategic partnership between the Public Law Project (PLP) and the Lankelly Chase Foundation. Established in 2017, the aim of the partnership is to bring PLP’s legal expertise to bear in support of the systems-change strategies of a group of Lankelly Chase’s partner organisations.

14 Feb 2020

Research

Quick and uneasy justice: An administrative justice analysis of the EU Settlement Scheme

Dr Joe Tomlinson

PLP has now finished phase one of its settled status research project. The first phase of research aimed to model how the scheme is designed, and to provide a detailed analysis of its possible strengths and weaknesses. The findings of this first phase of research are written up in a report by PLP’s Research Director

16 Jul 2019

Research

Using the law to address unfair systems

Dr Jacqui Kinghan and Professor Lisa Vanhala

The Public Law Project’s (PLP) collaborative approach to public law has featured in a case study of the landmark legal challenge to the personal independence payments scheme, a case that changed the assessment criteria for thousands of people on disability benefits. The research carried out by Dr Lisa Vanhala and Dr Jacqui Kinghan of UCL

23 Apr 2019

Research

The gap between the legal aid means regulations and financial reality

Isaac Richardson

This paper will first summarise the means regulations. It will then explore the discord between the regulations and financial reality, and the way in which this can exclude applicants who lack the resources needed to maintain an acceptable standard of living, let alone pay for legal services. Finally, it will identify two household types who

12 Jul 2018

Research

LASPO briefing: Public Law Project Litigation

Matthew Ahluwalia

The Legal Aid, Sentencing, and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO), and the subsequent secondary legislation, significantly changed the way that civil legal aid operates. Changes were made not only to the scope of legal aid, but also to the procedures and processes that clients and lawyers had to follow in order to access funding

14 Jun 2018

Research

The effects of LASPO on civil legal aid in Wales

Sue Harper

This research briefing explores effects of the LASPO reforms on civil legal aid provision in Wales. It draws on Welsh and UK Government statistics and reports; publications by legal professional bodies, Parliamentary Committees, Independent Commissions and the voluntary sector; academic sources; informal consultations with solicitors and advice charities. Download here

14 Jun 2018

Research

Exceptional Case Funding Briefing

Katy Watts

The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) limited the availability of civil legal aid, removing large areas of law from within scope of legal aid. In response to concerns about LASPO, the government included a provision for funding to be made available in certain cases, which would otherwise be outside of

22 May 2018

Research

The Civil Legal Advice Telephone Gateway

Polly Brendon

This briefing paper provides an overview of the PLP research report ‘Keys to the Gateway: an Independent Review of the Mandatory Civil Legal Advice Gateway.’ The introduction of the mandatory CLA Gateway for Debt, Discrimination, and Special Educational Needs marked a major shift in the delivery of publicly funded legal advice. This briefing looks at

22 May 2018

Research

Legal aid and access to early advice

Mary Evenden

The overview provided in this briefing paper identifies five key issues relating to the availability of early legal advice, which arise from the reforms to civil legal aid made by the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO).  This briefing paper reviews existing research conducted by other organisations that documents how the

1 May 2018

Research

Financial Barriers to Accessing Judicial Review: An Initial Assessment

Ravi Low-Beer and Dr Joe Tomlinson

In England and Wales, questions of money and finance have become more important in the discussion around judicial review in recent years. On the claimant side, there are widespread access to justice concerns relating ot the costs of bringing a judicial review. On the government side, there has been a view taken – which has

26 Apr 2018

Research

Literature Review on the Use and Impact of Litigation

Dr Lisa Vanhala and Jacqui Kinghan

The issue of how and when legal intervention is best used in system change is one that has received little attention in the UK previously. Yet assumptions are made by those who use the law as to how effective legal tools are in successfully challenging unfair systems. Here we are publishing a literature review on the use and

10 Apr 2018

Research

Family Law and Access to Legal Aid

Emma Marshall, Sue Harper and Hattie Stacey

The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) significantly limited the availability of legal aid in civil and family law. Whilst public law family cases remained in the scope of legal aid under LASPO, most private family law matters became ineligible for legal aid, with the exception of funding for some victims

10 Apr 2018