The Ministry of Justice Review of Civil Legal Aid is a large-scale review to identify options for improving the civil legal aid system. CCLC has delivered specialist advice and representation to children across many areas of law for decades, and has used that experience to respond to the review with 50 recommendations to make the system work for children and prioritise children’s needs, rights and best interests.
You can read our submission and recommendations here.
Rosalyn Akar Grams, Managing Director of Legal Practice and Children’s Rights at CCLC, said:
Legal aid is the backbone of access to justice for children in the UK, and we are proud that it is at the very heart of the work that we do. CCLC has over 40 years’ experience in providing legal advice and representation to children, and in that time we have seen the civil legal aid system damaged by strain and neglect. The review of civil legal aid is a valuable opportunity for the Ministry of Justice, not only to provide life support for a system that is on its knees, but to think again about building a framework for access to justice in the UK with children’s needs and rights at its core.
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At least one in every ten children in care has an unresolved immigration or nationality issue, according to new research published by Coram Children’s Legal Centre and the South London Refugee Association and endorsed by many major children’s organisations.
The report, Taking Care: How local authorities can best address immigration issues of children in care, also finds that delaying help on immigration and nationality issues could be costing local authorities hundreds of thousands of pounds per year. A citizenship application for a child costs £1012; by contrast, waiting until the young person leaves care can cost as much as £130,000 in Home Office fees and support with living.
Coram Children’s Legal Centre and other charities are working with local authorities, asking them to sign a pledge to: