Vicky Ling

Photo of security gates at Coldingley prison, by Andy Aitchison.

The prison population stands at 87,199. There are 105 more people in prison than there were last week.

By the prison service's own measure of safe and decent accommodation, there is room for only 79,428. The population is 7,771 above this level.

howardleague.org/prison-watch/

Thank you kindly! Other contacts feel free to sponsor the legal aid newcomer award - we need to encourage the next generation!

Thank you so much!

It’s always an exciting moment when an updated edition of the Legal Aid Handbook hits the desk! Thanks to all involved

PLP lawyer Aoife O'Reilly and Ellen Clifford in front of the Royal Courts of Justice.

🚨 BREAKING: We are delighted to share that our client
@ellenclifford.bsky.social has won her case against the DWP over an unlawful consultation held on reforms tightening the #WorkCapabilityAssessment.

These reforms would lead to over 400,000 people being worse off by at least £416 a month.

Great to see you here!

🚨 We're hiring! 🚨

Advocate is looking for an Engagement Manager (maternity cover) to join our team and help us champion access to justice.

The role is full time, hybrid working.

Apply by Sunday 19th January! ⏰

➡️ bit.ly/Advoc8Careers

#ProBono #LegalJobs #AccessToJustice

How restraint in schools is traumatising children with SEND and injuring teachers Children's tsar raises alarm over 'terrible' use of restraint as poll finds more than half of teachers have had no training on how to do it safely

More than half of teachers using physical restraint on children have had no training on how do so safely in the last two years, a survey shows, as disquiet grows about the extent of such physical interventions in both special and mainstream schools inews.co.uk/news/restrai...

So, 2025 is the year that I get to introduce/inflict my new pseudonymous pen name - S.J. Fleet.

And send this little critter out into the world.

August 2025 will be the debut of The Cut Throat Trial (although you can pre-order now).

And good Lord I’m terrified.

www.amazon.co.uk/Cut-Throat-T...

I particularly love this painting by Piero Della Francesca in the National Gallery. Thank you for posting.

‘We live on Pot Noodles’: rickets hits homeless families with no kitchen

The lack of cooking facilities is a frequent complaint in homelessness cases.

There’s just two days left in 2024, and we’re still waiting for more details on the review of Universal Credit. 

People struggling to get by on woefully inadequate benefits need action now. The government must urgently set out the terms of the review. 

Thank you!

Just published:Public Law Project's brilliant new report on a research project monitoring real capacity for asylum legal aid providers to take on work remotely from South West advice desert. Spoiler: turns out there was v little real capacity, esp for appeals! publiclawproject.org.uk/content/uplo...

Market St

Hayle 2022

Law Centres: Poor relations At a time of historically high demand, law centres starved of funds have been closing their doors. Supply and demand are heading in opposite directions, reports Catherine Baksi.

"Legal aid is the stone that successive governments have left unturned when looking at alleviating poverty."

Last year, Law Centres saved the government an estimated £172 million. With sustainable funding, they could do a whole lot more.
👉 www.lawgazette.co.uk/features/law...

IPP LICENCE TERMINATION HOTLINE Our lawyers have trained volunteers at Peters and Peters LLP to host an advice line to support with queries about the changes in the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024. Call our hotline for confidential legal advice on: 01209 701 888. Running from 7 October until 18 December 2024.

❗ It is the last week of our IPP hotline ❗

☎️ The hotline is open from 5pm today.

Our lawyers have trained volunteers at Peters and Peters LLP to host an advice line to support with queries about the changes in the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024.
howardleague.org/publications...

We cannot build our way out of this crisis

We cannot build our way out of this crisis. Billions earmarked for new jails would be better invested in probation.

Read our response to the government’s plans to open up 14,000 more prison places by 2031, outlined in a new 10-year strategy announced today: howardleague.org/news/billion...

@beverleywatkins.bsky.social

Renowned poet and Black arts movement icon Nikki Giovanni dies at 81 The poet and activist was a leading figure of the Black Arts Movement. Giovanni was working on her upcoming book of poetry, set to publish in the fall.

“Art offers Sanctuary to everyone willing to open their hearts as well as their eyes.”

— Nikki Giovanni

May she rest in peace:

www.npr.org/2024/12/09/n...

#art #artsky #writing #poetry #blacksky

Print of an otter swimming in blue swirling water, shown vertically with head towards the bottom of the image and curved tail at the top, to the right are three fishes and one to the top left

'Fishing Otter' linocut and silkscreen print by Angela Harding, contemporary artist based in the UK

A graphic titled: “A bigger footprint” Text which reads: "Nearly all Law Centres hold legal aid contracts" A donut chart which shows: •Currently, Law Centres make up 3% of all civil legal aid providers Text which reads: "However, they also make up:" Donut charts which show: •Law Centres make up 12% of immigration legal aid providers •Law Centres make up 12% of public law legal aid providers •Law Centres make up 15% of local housing legal aid providers •23% of housing duty desks are operated by Law Centres •Law Centres make up 36% of discrimination legal aid providers •Law Centres make up 53% of welfare benefits legal aid providers Text which reads: "LCN supports Law Centres to bid for legal aid contracts and optimise them" Text which reads: "Law Centres: public service lawyering"

Law Centres now make up over 1 in 7 of housing #LegalAid providers and nearly 1 in 8 of immigration legal aid providers.

See what LCN and Law Centres are achieving together—all in our new annual review.
👉 www.lawcentres.org.uk/news/the-val...

Chilling

📣 #PMShoutout to Joshua Griffin @gatehouse.bsky.social for securing a settlement of over £100,000 for our applicant, a 78-year-old widow, in her negligence claim against a letting agent. Josh was assisted by a team of solicitors at Dentons, secured through Pro Bono Connect (continued below).

Family lawyers face long wait for further divorce reform Law Commission scoping paper will contain four potential models of reform - but no recommendations.

www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/family-...

MoJ mulls costs protection for discrimination claims Call for evidence comes four years after judicial review case was lost by disability campaigner.

This would be a great step forward (especially re reasonable adjustments cases) if it happens www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/moj-mul...