July 2008 Number of Contracts to NfP sector reduced

Information provided on 10th July to South Manchester Law Centre in response to a Freedom of Information Act request to the Legal Services Commission.  LSC_on_Contracts_10.07_.08__.pdf


June 2008 LSC Strategic Plan 2008 - 2011

Strategic_Plan_2008-11_12.06.08.pdf


June 2008 LCF Networking

Law Centre’s May/June 2008 Newsletter
May_2008.pdf


June 2008 Third Sector Strategy 2008-2011

Strategy published by the Ministry of Justice on 6th June 2008 on ‘Improving policies and securing better public services through effective partnerships’.

Third_Sector_Strategy_June_08.pdf


May 2008 Communities face threat of legal exclusion

Article by Steve Hynes, director of Legal Action Group in the Solicitors Journal 27th May 2008
Solicitors_Journal_-_Communities_face_threat_of_exclusion_27th_May.doc


May 2008 Ministry of Justice Department Report

Ministry of Justice Department Report for 2007 -2008

2007_to_2008.pdf

Chapter Four on Access to Justice
Access_to_Justice_2007-2008.pdf


May 2008 CLACs - Are they Worth It ?

Policy Paper on Community Legal Advice Centres written by Adam Griffith from the Advice Services Alliance.  Published on 22nd May 2008

‘Based on an analysis of the various tender documents produced so far, this paper identifies the key requirements specified for CLACs and a number of concerns. The LSC has confirmed that there will be an evaluation of the first round of CLACs. This paper identifies a number of issues that may need to be considered in that evaluation.’

ASA_CLACs_Are_they_Worth_it_.pdf


May 2008 Legal Aid and the Public Interest

Bar Council Discussion Paper launched on 20th May at a meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Legal and Constitutional Affairs. The meeting was chaired by Lord Brennan QC and speakers included Carolyn Regan, Chief Executive of the Legal Services Commission, Andrew Holryod, President of the Law Society and Tim Dutton QC, Chair of the Bar.

Legal_Aid_and_the_Public_Interest_May_2008.pdf
Note the paper includes an overview of the legal aid reforms since 2004 - ‘The Journey so far’ on page 8


May 2008 Shifting Sands

Time may be running out for the pioneering Law Centres movement, born 40 years ago at the high point of 1960s idealism. Jon Robins reports on the sector’s struggle for survival

Article by Jon Robins, freelance journalist and director of communications and campaigns for the Legal Action Group published on 15th May in the Law Society Gazette.

Law_Society_Gazzette_Shifting_Sands_15.05.08.doc


May 2008 Priorities for the Legal Aid system

Covers the history and current priorities for civil and criminal legal aid and a round up of how the government is reshaping the system.

Priorities_for_Legal_Aid_Steve_Hynes_05.08.doc

Steve Hynes, Director of Legal Action. Speech delivered to the College of Law on 14th May 2008.