Hitler discusses the legal aid reforms

[TTwiggy]

I'm sure there's a few on here who would be up for it. 'I mean, law eh?, how hard can it really be? It's just arguing and I've already got a proven track record in that...'

[will_]

Breadvan72 said:

http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/practice/culture-chang...


Why bother with those tiresome lawyers with their years of training, independent statutory regulation, compulsory insurance against negligence, code of professional conduct, compulsory refresher training, and all that blah? Just pay someone who is untrained unregulated, uninsured, and subject to no code of professional behaviour. Plan!

Strewth.

From the comments:
"Yesterday another so called "McKenzie friend (an accountant) tried to represent his 'client' at an oral examination by suggesting "I am advising my client to say 'no comment'..... he also continued to talk across me, referring to me as 'sunshine' and the court official as 'love'."

Worse than a litigant in person? And I wonder what extra costs the various (inevitable) appeals will require.

[10 Pence Short]

You know what'll be ace? A litigant in person suing a McKenzie friend-in-person over breach or contract/negligence with a gallery full of sniggering advocates.

[PlankWithANailIn]

What has any of this McKenzie friends stuff got to do with legal aid? Never even heard of this "Legal Services Consumer Panel", a watch dog of what exactly? ...oh... just googled them and they provide advice to the Legal services Board which is appears to be the governments attempt to replace the Law society....

[anonymous-user]

Just to clarify, the Law Society is the Trade Union for solicitors. It is no longer a regulator. The SRA regulates solicitors, the BSB regulates barristers (the Bar Council is the Trade Union), and various other bodies regulate the various other types of lawyer that exist in the UK. The paid McKenzie Friends are unregulated.

[pork911]

Court of Appeal overturns move to halt fraud trial.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27501825

[BlackLabel]

A £15m legal aid bill - and all because of the flawed research of one quack. I wonder if the litigants will be using legal aid to fund this move.



http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/law/article4130409.e...

[anonymous-user]

Meanwhile, over in crim land:-

http://alisongurden.wordpress.com/2014/06/23/effic...

[tenpenceshort]

I think the current system sucks more than a big sucky thing sucking on an equally large thing sucking on a large sucky thing.

Cerebrally I'd love to train in criminal law, but there is no way on this planet I could afford it. All the while defendants, victims and witnesses are all spat out the system with at least equal mediocrity.

[XCP]

Woodworking is much more satisfying. And you get to burn your mistakes.

[anonymous-user]

The Ministry of Justice has just been found by the High Court to have acted unfairly and unlawfully in relation to legal aid cuts. The MoJ then tweeted that this is a "technicality". The twittersphere has not reacted well to this.


https://twitter.com/MoJPress/status/51295846421864...

http://www.theguardian.com/law/2014/sep/19/crimina...

[Rude-boy]

Almost enough to make me register an account.

Least we know that the "Yesser's" spin people have found a new home after less than 24 hours of unemployment

[avinalarf]

Andy Zarse said:

Breadvan72 said:

McWigglebum4th said:

As someone who made the mistake of getting a job i'll never get legal aid

So not bothered about it ending

A commendably PH style "the world extends no further than the confines of my house/car/family; financial weakness reflects moral weakness; I shall never encounter misfortune, and everyone else can go hang " attitude!

Precisely how you conflate his point to this grandiose tripe is totally and utterly beyond me.

Apologies for coming late too this interesting topic.
Although I applaud Breadvan's altruism,I must confess to being irked by the fact that, as one who has been self employed all his life and earned a reasonable lifestyle,the joy of being able to seek state assistance is not one that factors in my life.
The "pot" of loving kindness is under extreme pressure lately and there is only so much to go around.
Mr Breadvan appears to suggest that any poor soul can dip into this pot when the case arises.
The fact that we are governed by buffoons is the reason for many of our woes.
Mr Breadvan might well take out his angst on them and not on the likes of some posters who feel that the largesse of our political classes spending/wasting OUR tax money on worthless causes does no one any favours,and that includes those unfortunates that might actually deserve support.

[anonymous-user]

I haven't suggested any such thing.

[avinalarf]

Breadvan72 said:

I haven't suggested any such thing.

"A commendably PH style "the world extends no further than the confines of my house/car/family; financial weakness reflects moral weakness; I shall never encounter misfortune, and everyone else can go hang " attitude!"

If then the quote above does not describe those sentiments I have suggested you hold I apologise.
My point is that the with the funds available to help those that cannot afford legal representation it is most necessary to spend that money wisely and on the cases that have merit.
One wonders when one reads about some cases where legal aid is given whether those parameters are met.
I understand that those cases we read about are in a minority,however they do exist and it is only fair to express an opinion on them.
It is the suppression of the concerns of "the man in the street"that has lead to some of the "problems"we have in our society today.
With freedom comes responsibility and many feel that some of those that have received state help,whether legal or other,have not taken up their responsibilities sufficiently.

[pork911]

http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/5044210.article?utm_so...

[pork911]

MoJ chief admits cuts rushed through without research

http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/law/moj-chief-admits-c...



Grayling admits misleading parliament

http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/law/grayling-admits-mi...




....oh, and today is 'Human Rights Day'

[carinaman]

Thanks pork911.

I watched the BBC coverage of the Tory conference the day Grayling was striding about the stage and the day when the Modern Slavery Bill was being discussed with a Lawyer that said she was independent. It was the most disturbing thing I've seen on TV for a while.

[pork911]

and another...

Minister tells judges to keep out of legal aid disputes
http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/law/minister-tells-jud...

[carinaman]

pork911 said:

....oh, and today is 'Human Rights Day'

At least ITV aired the Christopher Jefferies dramatisation today.

Regarding there only being 20 MPs in the House to witness Chris Grayling mislead the House, is there a way of finding out who those 20 are? I thought Hansard only kept notes of people when they speak. Or do they also keep a record of bums on seats?