Updates, commentary, training and advice on immigration and asylum law

Legal aid lawyers sue government over coronavirus appeal payments

THANKS FOR READING

Older content is locked

A great deal of time and effort goes into producing the information on Free Movement, become a member of Free Movement to get unlimited access to all articles, and much, much more

TAKE FREE MOVEMENT FURTHER

By becoming a member of Free Movement, you not only support the hard-work that goes into maintaining the website, but get access to premium features;

  • Single login for personal use
  • FREE downloads of Free Movement ebooks
  • Access to all Free Movement blog content
  • Access to all our online training materials
  • Access to our busy forums
  • Downloadable CPD certificates

Furious legal aid lawyers have taken their dispute with the Ministry of Justice to the next level with a judicial review aimed at reversing forthcoming changes. Duncan Lewis Solicitors have sent a letter before action challenging the payment structure for remote immigration appeals during the pandemic.

A new system for reimbursing lawyers for remote immigration and asylum appeals comes into force on 8 June. Although it is only supposed to last for one year, as a temporary coronavirus measure, a host of representative groups say that’s long enough to do irreparable harm to legal aid firms.

The letter before action says:

Without consultation, or any apparent evidence base, the amendment increases the likelihood that legal aid providers will be undercompensated for their work and places access to justice at risk.

The legal action challenges the alleged lack of consultation before making the regulations in question, as well as the ministry’s “failure to make reasonable inquiries as to the likely effects of the Amendment on the availability and quality of legally aided representation”.

A spokesperson for the Immigration Law Practitioners Association said: “we are very pleased that Duncan Lewis is bringing this important challenge. We have helped out at pre action stage by providing some background information on the work that we have been doing, and we will continue to support this litigation in any way that we can”.

The firm has instructed Ali Bandegani of Garden Court Chambers, and Chris Buttler and Eleanor Mitchell of Matrix.

Relevant articles chosen for you
Picture of CJ McKinney

CJ McKinney

CJ McKinney is a specialist on immigration law and policy. Formerly the editor of Free Movement, you will find a lot of articles by CJ here on this website! Twitter: @mckinneytweets.

Comments