Solicitor general to map public legal education efforts

As the attorney general talks up the importance of pro bono work to help gain access to justice, the attorney general says the ‘great work’ being done by attorneys has to be mapped.

Robert Buckland QC MP advised that the Gazette the newly created public legal education panel, which he chairs, will map two strands of work taking place across the country during the next few weeks.

‘Just in time’ work will cover help for people facing an immediate issue.   Buckland said: ‘We are working towards signposting people towards the proper areas of assistance. There are a lot of people who want assistance and knowledge, and do not know who to turn into.’  

Robert Buckland QC MP

‘Just in case’ public legal education work will cover preventative work that makes people aware of their rights and responsibilities.

To indicate National Pro Bono Week, the attorney general yesterday visited the University of Law’s pro bono department at its Chester campus. He fulfilled students   working together with the National Centre for Domestic Violence which provides a free, fast emergency injunction support. He also observed a ‘streetlaw’ session in which pupils taught school children   about the legal issues related to filming at school and posting footage online via social networking.

Now, Buckland was due to attend an all-party parliamentary group on public legal education occasion, in which civil rights campaigner Edgar Cahn will examine the idea of ‘time banks’, which he based.  

Under the movement, people list the skills and expertise they could provide and those that they may need. One hour equals one time credit.   Everyone agrees to give and to get help, to make and to spend their time credits.   Individuals are  invited to spend their own time credits to permit others the chance to create a difference and feel necessary. Buckland stated time banks was an ‘intriguing’ concept that ‘deserves more support in the UK’.

The attorney general, Jeremy Wright QC MP, meanwhile now visited King’s College London’s brand new legal advice centre which provides free legal services to those who are unable to afford a attorney. Wright explained: ‘Professional bono is an ancient legal tradition that widens access to justice and that I look forward to meeting with the students involved in pro bono work at King’s College.’

Meanwhile the attorney general is confident that the authorities will conduct a comprehensive overview of the effect of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012. The review will analyze areas including changes to the scope of legal aid for family, civil and criminal cases, and also the coming of the exceptional case financing scheme.

Buckland advised that the Gazette that the ‘extended and comprehensive’ review will be completed in about nine months time. The attorney general, who last month conceded there are examples in the machine of unfairness that need to be emptied, is certain the ‘wide-ranging’ inspection will also analyze early intervention work.

Source

https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/law/solicitor-general-to-map-public-legal-education-efforts/5063578.article

source http://www.hardmansolicitors.com/solicitor-general-to-map-public-legal-education-efforts/