Crane & Staples’ Post

The pursuit of equitable access to justice is a cornerstone of our society. We echo the sentiments expressed by the Law Council of Australia media release earlier last month regarding the critical importance of robustly funded legal assistance services. Law Council of Australia media release: https://lnkd.in/g-hR4A2n At the Social Policy Group (SPG), we are deeply committed to addressing barriers to justice, particularly for individuals facing intersecting challenges such as those from migrant and refugee backgrounds. SPG proudly serves as the secretariat for the Judicial Council on Diversity & Inclusion (JCDI). The JCDI operates as an advisory body dedicated to promoting procedural fairness and equality of treatment for all court users. We understand that issues of diversity and inclusion extend far beyond mere acknowledgment and encompass social exclusion and disadvantage experienced by various groups: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, migrants, refugees, individuals with disabilities, LGBTQI+ individuals, women, and older Australians. It's imperative to highlight the direct correlation between the Law Council's call for increased funding and our ongoing efforts to promote access to justice. SPG collaborates with the JCDI to bridge the gap between legal assistance and underserved communities, ensuring that these services are not only accessible but also culturally sensitive and tailored to diverse needs. For more information on our collaboration with JCDI and our ongoing initiatives, please visit https://lnkd.in/gqBiF_-4 to learn more. #AccessToJustice #DiversityandInclusion #SocialPolicy #JusticeForAll 

Last week we posted about #TakeYourMPtoWork, a campaign that we're running with Migrants Organise to bring MPs to the frontline of legal aid. Ahead of our first drop-in session tomorrow (sign up at the link below!), a few more thoughts about why this campaign, and why now. We are lawyers working in human rights law. We represent clients who - at best - are being failed by a failing state. We do so in a legal aid system that has been crippled by austerity. We’re over-worked, under-paid (and lots of us are cynical!). *But*: We do the work we do despite (or in some cases because of) all of this. We know how vital legal aid is: for our clients, for our communities, and for our society at large. We know that timely access to legal representation is one of the best ways to ensure that small problems don't become bigger. It's also one of the most cost-effective ways. Despite this legal aid has been chronically underfunded for decades. The last 14+ years speaks to the fact that if we want a sustainable, well-funded legal aid system, we have to advocate for it. And we cannot afford to miss this moment, with a new government, new ministers and over 300 new MPs. This is why we're calling for lawyers, community advisors, and those impacted by cuts to legal aid to #TakeYourMPtoWork. By bringing MPs to the front-line of legal aid, we know we can show the transformative power of our work and make the case for reform. With @migrantsorg, we've created easy-to-use templates, resources, and guides to engage with your MP. We're also hosting drop-in sessions, the first of which is taking place *tomorrow* on Zoom. To sign up to find out more about the campaign and for the drop-in sessions, head to our website (link below!).

Throughout March, The Legal Aid Society is celebrating #SocialWorkMonth by spotlighting the dedicated efforts of professionals like Ashley Lecaro, LMSW, a social worker in LAS’s Civil Practice. As a passionate advocate for human rights and social justice, Ashley plays a crucial role in assisting our clients, navigating complex barriers, and achieving victories like a recent successful asylum case, showcasing our unwavering commitment to ensuring a dignified life for low-income New Yorkers. Read more about Ashley’s experience at the Legal Aid Society: Q: Why did you decide to become a social worker? A: I became a social worker to advocate for human rights, social justice, and more goodness in the world. Our clients face challenging barriers and issues, all of which are impacted by the communities, systems, and worldviews we live in. It is my job to help them at all the intersections of their lives as they try to live a dignified and worthy life. Q: What strategies do you employ to address your clients' emotional and psychological needs during legal proceedings? A: In the Immigration Law Unit, dealing with extensive case backlogs means our clients might find themselves in limbo for years before getting their day in court. I've been closely assisting a mother and daughter seeking asylum since July 2019, helping them navigate homelessness and mental health challenges, especially after their 2020 asylum hearing got pushed to October 2023. Despite the hurdles, our sustained efforts, counseling, and resource navigation paid off with a successful asylum case in October 2023. Now they're working on green card applications for a brighter future. Q: Can you share a specific case where your role as a social worker at the Legal Aid Society had a significant impact on a client's life or the outcome of the case? A: When clients prep for Asylum hearings or work on SIJS, U-visa, or T-visa cases, they often have to recount their toughest memories for immigration relief. Recognizing how this process can be deeply retraumatizing, I support them with a trauma-informed approach, prioritizing their choices, safety, and collaboration. My goal is always to affirm their narratives and boost their coping skills as they open up and share their challenging experiences. Join us as we celebrate Ashley and all of our social workers this month.

Guess the location for our next FREE legal advice drop-In session? - Tulia's Community Legal Education programs address UK immigration policy challenges faced by individuals in a clear and accessible way, helping migrants understand their rights, responsibilities, and the best course of action for their different situations. This proactive approach empowers communities, fosters self-advocacy, and equips individuals with the knowledge they need to navigate the complex UK immigration system with confidence. Guess our next location in the comments below! #communitylegaleducation #advocacy #policychange #frontline

In Scotland, access to justice is systematically failing. Our civil legal aid system, designed to ensure that individuals facing financial hardship can access legal support, is on the brink of collapse. Despite its good intentions, the system is falling short, leaving our most vulnerable communities and groups without the support they need. What's the problem? 1️⃣ Shortage of Solicitors: There is a drastic shortage of civil legal aid solicitors across Scotland. This gap is especially pronounced in specialised areas such as immigration, gender-based violence, and human rights. Without access to qualified legal professionals, many are left to navigate complex legal challenges alone, or worse, give up. 2️⃣ Financial Unsustainability: The funding provided for legal aid is grossly inadequate. Since 1999, the rate of increase in legal aid fees has lagged far behind inflation, making it financially unviable for many solicitors to continue offering their services under the current system. This has led to a mass exodus of professionals from the field, further exacerbating the scarcity of legal aid. 3️⃣ Exclusion of Groups and NGOs: The current legal aid framework is limited to individuals, excluding community groups and NGOs from accessing support for broader, systemic issues. This restriction hampers collective efforts to challenge injustices and advocate for widespread change. 4️⃣ Human Rights and Justice: Access to legal aid is more than a service - it's a cornerstone of human rights. The right to a fair trial and effective remedy is fundamental, yet without adequate legal support, these rights are rendered meaningless for many. Our justice system must ensure that everyone, regardless of their financial status, has the means to seek redress and uphold their rights. 5️⃣ Government Inaction: Despite multiple consultations and commitments to reform, the Scottish Government has yet to take decisive action to address the deficiencies in our legal aid system. The forthcoming 2024-25 Programme for Government must include concrete steps towards a comprehensive overhaul of civil legal aid. As Scotland progresses towards incorporating more international human rights into Scots law, the need for accessible and affordable legal aid becomes increasingly critical. The upcoming Scottish Human Rights Bill, set to incorporate rights to adequate housing, health services, and a social security net, will only be effective if people can afford to claim these rights. At Human Rights Consortium Scotland, Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland and JustRight Scotland, we are calling on the Scottish Government to commit to urgent legal aid reforms. We propose a consultation on a draft Legal Aid Reform Bill by 2026 and an amendment to Regulation 15 of the Civil Legal Aid (Scotland) Regulations 2002 to broaden the scope of legal aid. Read more, including a Word and PDF version of the briefing here: https://lnkd.in/e8biqsjV

We are disbursing a second round of Legal Aid Advancement (LAA) grants to 16 organizations to help people address critical threats to their safety and stability. Civil legal needs remain high among Wisconsin people with limited incomes. The picture is made more gloomy by looming expiration of some COVID-related funding, as well as federal cuts to Victims of Crime Act funding. However, we saw the opportunity to make a modest dent in the need. Today's elevated interest rates are causing increased revenue from Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts (IOLTAs). We use IOLTA revenue to fund civil legal aid. Civil legal aid is advice, representation, and high-quality information that allows people to protect their rights and seek fair legal solutions when they can't afford an attorney. WisTAF released $2 million last year, and now an additional $2.5 million, in LAA grants to civil legal aid providers.

📢 Lawyers Challenge Legal Aid Cuts in High Court Battle A coalition of leading law firms, spearheaded by Duncan Lewis, is taking the Lord Chancellor, Alex Chalk, to the High Court over drastic cuts to legal aid funding. The reduction in legal aid fees, especially for immigration and asylum cases, is seen as a threat to the foundation of access to justice in the UK. 🔗 Read the full article for more insights: https://lnkd.in/eP--s8hG #legalrecruitment #jobsinkent #tnrecruitslaw

Here is an example of how administrative agencies can make information about legal cases more accessible to unrepresented litigants: ***EOIR Stakeholder Update*** EOIR today announced it has launched Respondent Access Portal, part of the Access EOIR Initiative. Through a phased enrollment, Respondent Access Portal will allow unrepresented individuals who have cases before EOIR to view their case information, keep informed about hearing schedules, download electronic Records of Proceedings, and file case-related documents. Unrepresented adult noncitizens will receive an official notice from the immigration court. Please see the agency notice for more details. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://lnkd.in/eFiY6ryA Just one example of how to put the White House Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable (LAIR) 2023 report into action. https://lnkd.in/emAB2_a3 #A2J #ATJ #accesstojustice #immigration #humancentereddesign

Specialist early intervention and crisis response legal services like the Domestic Violence Unit are critical to achieving enduring safe and positive outcomes for victim-survivors of gender-based violence.