Legal Aid

1-15 of 138 Articles
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Stormont's new justice committee has been briefed on key issues by the Bar of Northern Ireland and the Law Society of Northern Ireland. The new committee is chaired by DUP MLA Joanne Bunting, with Sinn Féin's Deirdre Hargey as vice-chair. It heard from representatives of the two legal profess

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Nuala Egan SC has been appointed as chairperson of the Legal Aid Board. An experienced barrister who previously served on the Board, Ms Egan succeeds Ms Justice Nuala Jackson, who was appointed in 2021 for what was originally meant to be a five-year term.

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The Legal Aid Board's family mediation service has launched a new call-back service aimed at making free mediation more accessible to families. Free mediation is available to families who have undergone a divorce, separation or living apart, as well as those navigating challenges in the aftermath of

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The barristers and solicitors who earned the most from the criminal legal aid scheme in 2023 have been named. Wayne Kenny, principal of Dublin-based French Kenny Solicitors, was the highest-earning solicitor with earnings of €882,074.

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The Law Society of Northern Ireland has invited solicitor members to complete a first-of-its-kind survey on the value of legal aid. The anonymous 10-minute survey, which can be accessed by clicking here, is part of a study commissioned by the Law Society and being undertaken by Rocket Science UK Ltd

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Barristers' fees should be restored "as a matter of urgency" and direct payments should be introduced for those practising in the District Court, the Oireachtas justice committee has recommended. The committee yesterday published its pre-legislative scrutiny report on the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid

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An £11 million boost to Northern Ireland's legal aid budget was announced today as more than 200 criminal barristers staged a day of strike action over lengthy payment delays. The Department of Justice announced the additional £10.9m in funding following talks with the Department of Fina

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Criminal barristers in Northern Ireland are to stage a one-day strike on Friday 17 November 2023 in an escalating dispute over delays in legal aid payments. The Criminal Bar Association (CBA) previously balloted members on a withdrawal of services in response to “unprecedented and worsening&rd

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Criminal barristers in Northern Ireland will walk out next month in a legal aid dispute — just weeks after barristers south of the border secured a significant increase in fees in a similar action. The Criminal Bar Association (CBA) balloted members on a withdrawal of services in response to "

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The Bar Council has welcomed a 10 per cent increase in criminal legal aid fees in Budget 2024 as an "important first step" on the path to full fee restoration for criminal practitioners. Justice minister Helen McEntee yesterday confirmed that a total of €9 million has been allocated to provide

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Criminal legal aid fees will be boosted by 10 per cent early next year, justice minister Helen McEntee announced following the unveiling of Budget 2024. Over €3.27 billion in current expenditure and €274 million for capital projects has been allocated to the justice sector in the budget pr

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An additional €172 million has been allocated to the justice sector in Budget 2024 — but it is not immediately clear whether criminal legal aid fees will be increased. Neither finance minister Michael McGrath nor public expenditure, NDP delivery and reform minister Paschal Donohoe referre

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The Bar of Ireland has shared photos of barristers gathering in front of courthouses across the State as part of today's withdrawal of criminal legal aid services. You can find more pictures on Twitter by looking up the #FairIsFair hashtag.

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The new legal year has started with a bang. Just three short months after Helen McEntee said she didn't like to see barristers "protesting on the steps of the Criminal Courts of Justice", there are barristers on the steps of courthouses across the length and breadth of the State as they take part in

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Northern Ireland's legal professions have given a cautious welcome to a new fundamental review of criminal legal aid led by retired judge Tom Burgess. The Department of Justice yesterday confirmed that the review, led by Judge Burgess as its independent advisor, has commenced and will be completed w

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