Eighteen months ago, the countries of the world agreed at the United Nations that legal aid is “an essential element of a fair, humane and efficient criminal justice system”. They declared it “a foundation for the enjoyment of other rights, including the right to a fair trial,” as well as “an important safeguard that ensures fundamental fairness and public trust in the criminal justice process.”
Govt to enhance Criminal Legal Aid Scheme
Minister for Law K Shanmugam announced on Friday that his ministry has decided to give direct assistance and support to defendants in criminal cases through criminal legal aid.
Defendants could be forced to choose between a solicitor and barrister for criminal matters under tightened controls on grants by the ACT Legal Aid Commission.
LAWYERS have been advised to drop clients who do not pay contributions to criminal costs in advance when controversial legal aid changes come into effect next year.
Free legal aid becomes more accessible
More than 20,000 people received free secondary legal assistance during the last third quarter of 2013, the Information-analytical Bulletin of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine informs.
Lawmakers delve into legal aid again
The Cayman Islands government will seek once again to reform the system used to provide attorneys to indigent defendants in criminal cases and participants in some civil court cases.
Legal Aid triples debt despite cuts
Victoria Legal Aid has tripled the loss it made last year, recording a $9.3 million deficit despite slashing the number of people it will grant free legal help and its own staff.
The Madras High Court bench here on Monday directed the Superintendent of Tiruchi Central Prison and a life convict to submit reports on “the lapses in the mechanism of providing free legal aid” to prisoners by the Legal Aid Services Authority.
Ontario Legal Aid duty counsel lawyers do valuable work and deserve to be able to bargain collectively, Ontario Attorney General John Gerretsen says.
The new Legal Services Society's board chair Tom Christensen, formerly a BC Liberal cabinet minister, says he's optimistic a solution will be found for legal aid's current crisis in British Columbia.