Research Briefing
This Commons Library briefing describes measures being taken in the UK and elsewhere to make ownership of companies, land and real property more transparent.
Research Briefing
Who will be the UK's new judge for the European Court of Human Rights? This Commons Library briefing paper looks at the two-stage process, the UK candidates, and recent criticisms and reforms.
Research Briefing
This Commons Library briefing paper looks at 'no win, no fee' funding arrangements in the UK. Following the withdrawal of civil legal aid, many litigants are reliant on such arrangements for access to justice. Unable to afford lawyers' fees, they enter into agreements whereby they will not pay their lawyers should they lose but must pay an extra success fee in the event that they are successful.
Research Briefing
The Conservative Party went into the 2015 General Election with a manifesto commitment to “scrap the Human Rights Act and curtail the role of the European Court of Human Rights.” This note provides a brief introduction to the Human Rights Act 1998; the European Convention on Human Rights and the work of the European Court of Human Rights.
Research Briefing
On 28 January 2016 the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Michael Gove, told the House of Commons that his department would no longer pursue the introduction of the ‘dual contracting’ scheme for the provision of criminal litigation services in England and Wales. He also announced the suspension of a second reduction in solicitors’ fees. The change in policy ended the long-running dispute between the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and the legal profession over changes to criminal legal aid.
Research Briefing
The LASPO Act 2012 reduced the scope of civil legal aid. Controversy still surrounds its provision for private family law cases where, to be eligible, people seeking legal aid must provide evidence of domestic abuse.
Research Briefing
The available evidence indicates that the proportion of litigants appearing before the civil and family courts in England and Wales without legal representation (litigants in person, also sometimes called self-represented litigants) has increased since the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 took many civil and private law children and family cases out of scope for legal aid from 1 April 2013. What does this mean, both for the litigants and for the courts?
Research Briefing
Changes to civil legal aid have reduced spending, but whether they have increased costs elsewhere or added to the difficulties people may face in obtaining help with legal problems remains controversial.
Research Briefing
Individuals who have received legal aid may, at the end of the case, have to repay some or all of their legal aid costs. The Legal Aid Agency has been trying to recoup money owed via the statutory charge.
Debate Pack
A Westminster Hall debate on access to justice in Wales has been scheduled for Tuesday 15 December 2015 at 1630hrs. The member in charge of the debate is Carolyn Harris.
Research Briefing
Many changes have been made to the way in which the legal aid scheme is organised and managed but the current scheme is, in essence, the same as it was when founded in 1948. A green paper on legal aid reform was published on 15 November 2010. Perhaps its most controversial aspect was the proposal to take some categories of case out of scope for funding.
Debate Pack
A debate on marriage registration certificates will be held on Tuesday 8 December at 14.30pm. The member in charge of the debate is Caroline Spelman.
Research Briefing
This briefing paper considers transparency in the family courts, including communication of information and media attendance, and background on recent changes in this area.
Research Briefing
This Briefing Paper is prepared for the Second Reading of the Assisted Dying (No 2) Bill 2015 on 11 September 2015.
Research Briefing
Judicial review is a type of court proceeding in which a judge reviews the lawfulness of a decision or action made by a public body.
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