While some paralegals undoubtedly have the skills and experience, many won’t, I agree. When skilled litigators are not involved, or there is not even a decent referral arrangement, it is a cause for concern. I’m also sure that the perceived ‘level of threat’, if we might out it that way does play a part in Local Authority responses to challenges.

I’ve added a new post on the Shelter dispute, which I had been avoiding up till now. Shelter are the dangerous precedent for NfPs conforming to the LSC demands and they will, inevitably, be used as a stick to beat others with, as well as absorbing the matter starts of the fallen.

Having also worked for a local authority I have seen at first hand housing officers taking into account the likelihood of a particular outfit issuing a claim before they decide whether to back down. The thought process often runs something like this “Well they might have a sound legal argument but surely they can’t be right (even though I’m not sure I understand their argument, I’ve never read the authorities they’re citing, and I haven’t consulted the Legal Dept). But I think they’re trying it on. After all they seldom actually issue a claim…” This is surely unsurprising for anyone but the terminally naïve.

However the government and LSC dress their ‘reforms’ up, all practitioners know that the chickens are now truly coming home to roost for civil legal aid. What I find more depressing are those like Adam Sampson, Chief Executive of Shelter, who in their relentless drive to protect their empire have really thrown the baby out with the bathwater.

Mr Sampson and the Shelter board think the way to ensure ‘competitiveness’ and obtain future contracts is to sack and downgrade staff.

http://www.niknicol.co.uk/sheltertgwu21.pdf

I must say I found his recent blog entry about the strike at Shelter to be the most complacent and condescending tripe I’ve read in a long time.

http://shelter-hosting.org.uk/adamsampson/?p=77

Its painfully ironic that the biggest voice for the badly housed and homeless should be so ruthlessly pursuing the government’s agenda in undervaluing those delivering publicly funded legal advice. If Shelter weren’t the holder of the most NfP housing franchises, perhaps they would be exposing the effects of the administration of civil legal aid for the homeless and badly housed and their ability to enforce their legal rights.