New Legal Aid Thresholds Announced
31st March 2011
The Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) has announced new thresholds for Advice & Assistance (A&A) and Civil Legal Aid (CivLA), which will take effect from 11 April 2011.
Legal Aid is a form of government welfare benefit available to eligible persons who cannot afford to pay for private legal services.
A&A covers meetings with your solicitor, correspondence, telephone calls etc, and representation in some tribunals (ABWOR). Eligibility for A&A is assessed with reference to household financial circumstances, i.e. if you live with a partner, then your partner's income and savings are taken into account.
From 11 ...
Slum Landlords Beware of New Housing Law
18th March 2011
The Scottish Parliament has now passed the Private Rented Housing (Scotland) Act 2011, which aims to improve the standard of private rented housing in Scotland.
Councils should have enhanced powers to take measures against bad or unlawful practices and to improve both landlords' and their tenants’ awareness of their rights and responsibilities.
Delinquent landlords face a fine of up to £50,000 as well as a ban on letting homes of up to five years. The use of premiums, already unlawful in terms of existing legislation, should also receive attention under the new regime.
Benefits Reforms Summary under Conservative/Liberal Coalition Government, 2010 onwards
8th March 2011
Click this link for a table summarising benefits reforms introduced under the Conservative/Liberal Coalition Government of 2010 onwards.
New Law to Help Injury Victims & Families
7th March 2011
The Scottish Parliament has passed a new Damages Bill, which will reform the law of negligence with the aim of improving rights to compensation on the part of victims and their families in claims in respect of injury or death, including those caused by workplace accidents and industrial diseases.
The new law follows recommendations by the Scottish Law Commission, and was introduced by Bill Butler MSP. Changes to the existing law include:—
- A deceased person’s claim for the pain and suffering they endured before death may transmit to their executor.
- There will be an assumption that 75% of a ...