Tag Archive for 'Law Centres'

Hierarchy of Need

Published
by
NL
on 16 March 2008
in Legal Aid and job
. 4 Comments

I haven’t posted about the Shelter staff dispute until now, partly because I was hoping it would be resolved and partly because I had little to add.

I have been prodded into posting by a comment by Mark P. As he observes, Shelter management are in the vanguard of the NfP sector in ‘ensuring competitiveness’ in the chase for future competitive bidding for LSC franchises. Shelter’s management rather disingenuously argue that as the frontline services are the major recipient of state funding, it is frontline services that should bear the brunt of the ‘efficiencies’ (link goes to a .doc, courtesy of Nik Nicol).

What Shelter are doing today will inevitably be a model or rationale for the NfP sector (and quite possibly private firms as well). It is therefore of much broader significance than ‘just’ Shelter, if that wasn’t enough.

After 2 days of strikes (4 and 10 March), things have clearly got nasty, with tales of high pressure individual interviews pushing the new contracts under threat of dismissal.

But there is still amusement to be had. Witness Adam Sampson, Shelter CEO, claiming support, via a link, to be found in a post by Bridget Fox, Lib Dem candidate for Islington South. Then note that Fox’s post doesn’t offer support for Shelter management, it just opposes Ken Loach’s call to stop donations. Next, observe Fox backing frantically away from having to say anything contentious in the comments to the post as she is confronted by a couple of Shelter staffers explaining the dispute and highlighting heavy-handed treatment by management.

It appears that this was the most supportive link that Mr Sampson could find.

Follow-ups

Published
by
NL
on 13 March 2008
in Housing law and Legal Aid
. 0 Comments

There have been some very interesting comments on posts from the last week, and further news on the stories, making a catch up post worthwhile.

In no particular order…

I am delighted that Tony Fearnley commented on the Helena Housing v Molyneaux & Mower post. Tony, whom a quick google reveals is from Stephensons Solicitors, acted for Molyneaux and Mower (good work there) and also brings news that Knowsley v White has been joined with L&Q v Ansell for hearing in the House of Lords, listed for 3 days in October 2008. Helena Housing and Payne v Young is getting a lot of attention at the moment (Garden Court North have an article out -PDF). I have been told that the presiding Judge at one of my local county courts has said at a hearing (regrettably not a trial on the point) that he found Payne v Young very interesting indeed, that he would be bringing it to the attention of the other Judges at the Court and hoped it would feature in Ansell in the Lords. I also know a few solicitors who have pounced on the case and are actively using it already. I really want the time to have a proper look at Payne v Young, but it won’t be for a few days, at least.

Colin Yeo comments on Not for Profits in trouble, post fixed fee, mentioning the difficult circumstances of the South West London Law Centre. (Guardian story). The Gazette today has an article giving more detail, with a survey suggesting 20% of Law Centres are in major trouble and a further 49% in serious debt (article not available online yet). Discussions about amending transitional provisions are apparently taking place, but are late and may not be enough. This is very, very serious indeed. The LSC’s helpful comment was that they ‘had seen no evidence that law centres take on more complex work than other providers’ and ‘fixed fees were an important part of achieving value for money’. Yeah yeah, whatever.

Starting from my post on an unclear mention in Inside Housing, it quickly became clear via the comments that R (Weaver) v London & Quadrant has been a full-on JR application on grounds that Housing Associations (or L&Q at least) are public Mauthorities exercising a public function as landlord, and that a policy of using Ground 8 is unlawful (Thanks to J). The substantive hearing took place in late February. I wait with trembling anticipation.

Lastly and considerably less seriously, I hear there is some speculation being bandied as to my secret identity. Heavens above, how immensely flattering. I blush with pleasure. But I am a creature of mystery and shadow, at least in my Fritz Lang-addled imagination, and must perforce remain in the misty darkness…

Not for Profits in trouble?

Published
by
NL
on 10 March 2008
in Legal Aid and job
. 3 Comments

Madeleine Bunting has an editorial in the Grauniad decrying the civil legal aid reforms, in particular for the effect on the Not for Profits, as well as the ‘paralegal in call centre’ approach.

Apparently Gateshead Law Centre went into receivership last week and Devon (Plymouth?) is on the brink.

As far as I recall, these are both examples of the ‘Not London’ areas that the LSC was insisting would actually see an increase in income from the £171 fixed fee Legal Help. Hmm.

Somehow, I suspect we’ll see more Law Centre closures before too long.