School of Law » Latest News (tag [legal aid cuts])

The Archers' domestic violence storyline has sacrificed realism for ratings

Fri, 22 Apr 2016 09:37:14 GMT

Centre Fellow Natalie Byrom, has recently written an article in the New Statesman entitled "The Archers' domestic violence storyline has sacrificed realism for ratings".

The article explores how the Archers plotline involving Helen and Rob Titchener missed an important opportunity to highlight the difficulties facing victims of domestic violence in accessing support when attempting to extricate themselves from violent relationships.

Natalie also highlights in the article how these difficulties are exacerbated by changes to legal aid, which impact disproportionately on those living in rural areas. This is based on research Natalie did for the Centre in her report entitled "The State of the Sector: The impact of cuts to civil legal aid on practitioners and their clients"

#CoLab report: What is Birmingham doing towards the elimination of violence against women?

Wed, 13 Jan 2016 12:01:51 GMT

Dr Joanne Coysh, a former Centre PhD student and Fellow, is currently involved in the exciting #CoLab project, which recently published a timely report on What is Birmingham doing towards the elimination of violence against women? (click on link to access the report).

The next #CoLab event will be held on 20^th January in London to explore the question: How can we enable and support learning for social transformation? To book your place click here.

Lacuna Writer in Residence Short-listed for Orwell Prize

Thu, 23 Apr 2015 07:57:59 GMT

It has just been announced that the Centre and Lacuna Magazine's writer in residence, Rebecca Omonira-Oyekanmi has been short-listed for her work by the prestigious George Orwell Prize for Journalism. All the other short-listed journalists are from leading national newspapers (the Guardian, Economist, Independent and Scotland on Sunday). If Rebecca wins, it will be the second Orwell Prize for the University of Warwick’s Centre for Human Rights in Practice in three years. Andrew Williams won the Orwell Book Prize in 2013 for 'A Very British Killing'

Rebecca's shortlisted pieces included:

Centre launches second edition of LACUNA Magazine

Mon, 02 Jun 2014 13:59:08 GMT

The Centre for Human Rights in Practice has launched the second edition of it's flagship project: LACUNA Magazine: A Writing Wrongs Project. This edition showcases original expert commentary and investigative journalism on the theme of "Austerity and Prosperity", an issue in which the Centre has developed particular expertise. The lead feature: "Down the rabbit hole: Single parenthood in austerity Britain" has been picked up and re-published by the New Statesman. To read the exciting and challenging content featured in this edition please visit www.lacuna.org.uk

Centre hosts Access to Justice Workshop in conjunction with Monash University and Criminal Justice Centre

Mon, 07 Apr 2014 11:18:49 GMT

The Centre for Human Rights in Practice hosted a workshop on 19th March 2014 in conjunction with Monash University the Criminal Justice Centre at Warwick exploring the impact of cuts to civil and criminal legal aid. The workshop was attended by academics, legal practitioners, funders and civil society actors, all of whom had extensive knowledge of the legal aid changes and their impact in practice.

The workshop comprised three main sessions:

Legal aid cuts and the changing face of the legal profession;
Legal aid cuts and the lawyer client relationship; and
The broader social consequences of legal aid cuts.

For more information, please see the website developed by Centre Researcher Natalie Byrom.

Coventry families left penniless after benefits stopped: Uncovering the impact of benefit sanctions in Coventry

Thu, 05 Dec 2013 12:04:46 GMT

Thousands of families in Coventry over the last year were left without any income after their benefits were sanctioned (stopped or reduced) according to advice agencies working in Coventry. The agencies are so concerned about what is happening to people in Coventry that, together with the Centre for Human Rights in Practice, they are launching a three month survey to find out the full impact of welfare benefit sanctions in Coventry.

The survey is being launched following a meeting attended by over 30 organisations and individuals to discuss benefit sanctions in Coventry. Problems raised at that meeting included:

Examples of sanctions that appeared particularly severe including one person sanctioned for six weeks for being five minutes late to sign on, who as a result may become homeless, and another sanctioned for accidently putting the date of a job application and the job applied for in the wrong boxes on a form.
Examples of stress, depression and other mental health problems, including increased suicide risk among clients as a result of sanctions, particularly among female victims of domestic or sexual violence.
In some cases people only found out that they had been sanctioned when their benefits were stopped and did not know what they had done wrong, or that they had a right to appeal.
Families with children being left with no income to buy food or pay bills and at increased risk of homelessness because of rent arrears.

As a result of this meeting it was decided to launch a Coventry wide survey to uncover the full extent and impact of sanctions. Coventry agencies are asking their clients and any members of the public who have been sanctioned to take part in the survey, which is completely anonymous. Copies of the survey and advice about what to do if you are sanctioned are available here: http://www.covlaw.org.uk/welfare/sanctions.html

A direct link to the survey can be found here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FWW7YYW

Speaking at the launch of the survey Janet Gurney from Coventry Law Centre said:

We are really concerned about the impact that sanctions are having on some of the poorest families in Coventry. From the cases that agencies are seeing it looks as if some sanctions are being imposed unfairly, but few people know about their right to appeal, or that appeals are often successful. We would like to support more appeals in Coventry, but we also need to know more about how sanctions are being imposed in Coventry and what affect this is having on families.

The results of the survey will be published, and shared with the Job Centre locally and DWP nationally in the hope of improving practice.

For more information contact Janet Gurney on 02476 253 174 or Mary-Ann Stephenson on 07957 338582

For a link to the full media release click here and also read the Coventry Telegraph's article on the topic of the survey.

State of the Sector report on the impact of cuts to civil legal aid launched today

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 10:39:49 GMT

A report by the Centre for Human Rights in Practice exploring the impact of cuts to civil legal aid on practitioners and their clients has been published today and is available to download here. The report, which is based on a survey of 674 individuals working in legal aid law, has received coverage in Legal Voice, The Law Society Gazette and Legal Futures.

Report on the impact of cuts to civil legal aid receives coverage in the Guardian

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 16:34:05 GMT

A report produced by the Centre for Human Rights in Practice which explores the impact of cuts to civil legal aid has received coverage in the Guardian. To read the full article click here.

The full report is due to be published on the 8 April and will be available initially via ilegal.

Centre for Human Rights research into legal aid cuts receives coverage in legal press

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 16:45:36 GMT

Natalie Byrom, a PhD student at the Centre for Human Rights in Practice has joined forces with the founders of ilegal (http://ilegal.org.uk) to capture the impact of the cuts to civil legal aid on professionals working in the sector and their clients. A survey has been launched to explore the long term impact of the cuts introduced by the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act (LASPO) on expertise within the sector. The report will be published on 2 April to coincide with the cuts taking effect. For more details on the research please click here