Back to Welcome about us advice menu legal aid client care privacy policy contact us
case studies for those with disabilities news vacancies links
![]()
Solicitors
friendly, helpful, approachable, accessible
![]()
NEWS... NEWS... NEWS
check here for the latest news from access law
![]()
Included on this page:-
April results - see Monthly Statistics
Wendy Hewstone had an article published in the April 2008 Edition of Legal Aid Review on Key Performance Indicators in Legal Aid - see Articles and Publications
access law passes SRA audit with flying colours! see In The News
Wendy Hewstone appointed to the Law Society Access to Justice Committee - see In The News
Wendy Hewstone elected to the Law Society Council - see In The News
Derek Parsons commented on the McCartney - Mills divorce in a letter published in The Observer - see In The News
We are delighted to welcome Debra Ward to our staff - see In The News
Wendy Hewstone contributes to the debate on the future of Legal Aid on BBC Radio 5 Live - see In The News
access law passes SRA audit with flying colours
On 5-6th February 2008 access law was subject to a routine audit by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and passed with just a few minor amendments required (which have already been made.
Wendy Hewstone appointed to the Law Society Access to Justice Committee
In January 2008 Wendy Hewstone was officially appointed to the Law Society Access to Justice Committee
Wendy Hewstone elected to the Law Society Council
In November 2007 Wendy Hewstone was elected to the Law Society Council as the Legal Aid Practitioners Group (LAPG) representative.
Derek Parsons comments on the McCartney v Mills divorce
In a letter to The Observer newspaper published 11th November 2007, Derek Parsons commented on the very public divorce of Paul McCartney and Heather Mills:-
Debra Ward joins the access law team
Wendy Hewstone contributes to the debate on the future of Legal Aid
On 19th March 2007 Wendy Hewstone appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live where the proposed changes to Legal Aid were discussed with Caroline Regan, Chief Executive of the Legal Services Commission (LSC). Wendy argued that although the LSC wanted to improve quality of service to the Clients, this would not be possible unless adequate funding was made available to allow firms to cover their overheads and expenses.
Wendy Hewstone interviewed on the BBC's Politics Show
access law expands into larger offices
Legal Services Commission Contract Audit
On 20th April 2006 we underwent our first Legal Services Commission Contract Audit and passed with flying colours with only one minor problem which was rectified immediately.
Derek Parsons Interviewed on Radio Solent
On 7th March 2006 Derek contributed to a discussion on Radio Solent concerning the Hague Convention regarding a case where a mother had brought her children home to England from Switzerland where they had been brought up and was ordered to return them as she had breached the Convention. As a member of Reunite with many years experience in such cases, Derek was able to provide the legal background to what is a very emotive and controversial issue.
Wendy Hewstone's article in the April 2008 issue of the Legal Aid Review, published by the Legal Aid Practitioner's Group (LAPG) entitled "Shades of Grey" provided information and advice to other Solicitors together with commentary on the LSC's Key Performance Indicators:-
"[outcomes] cannot be judged in such monochrome terms as the LSC seems to require - family cases often have shades of grey"
Wendy Hewstone's article in the June 2007 issue of the Legal Aid Review, published by the
Legal Aid Practitioner's Group (LAPG) entitled "Changes on the Horizon" provided an overview of some of the changes to the Legal Aid scheme in relation to Family Law and expressed concern about how these proposals would affect the provision of Legal Aid and create so-called "advice deserts" where in some regions no law firm is available to provide advice:-Wendy Hewstone's article entitled "Domestic Violence, Contact and Legal Aid" in the March 2007 Legal Aid Review, published by the
Legal Aid Practitioner's Group (LAPG) highlighted concerns about the Courts allowing contact in cases where there have been allegations of violence and in particular the need for specialist lawyers and the problems over provision of Legal Aid:-Wendy Hewstone's article in the December 2006 Legal Aid Review, published by the
Legal Aid Practitioner's Group (LAPG) was entitled "What wouldn't we do?". It took a humorous look at some of the stranger incidents that have occurred in her 22 years as a Legal Aid lawyer but the underlying message was clear:-In an article published in the January/February 2006 edition of Delia Venables' Internet Newsletter for Lawyers, Gordon Hewstone questioned the usefulness and necessity of Case Management Systems for conveyancing:-
"
Wendy Hewstone contributed to an article on Domestic Violence published in The Law Society Gazette which included the following:-
"
April
Despite the downturn in the housing market, April proved to a good month:-
68 new client instructions including 36 family cases and 15 conveyancing;
36 of these clients (53%) were Legal Aid cases;
Over 57% of our new instructions came to us as established clients or by way of some form of recommendation or referral (we are grateful to the increasing number of Solicitors, Estate Agents, Brokers, Established Clients and others who continue to refer clients to us);
We answered a 15 email requests for advice and information this month including 4 on family matters and received 5 new client instructions as a result
March
A good start to the New Business Year:-
61 new client instructions including 33 family cases and 21 conveyancing;
31 of these clients (51%) were Legal Aid cases;
Over 72% of our new instructions came to us as established clients or by way of some form of recommendation or referral (we are grateful to the increasing number of Solicitors, Estate Agents, Brokers, Established Clients and others who continue to refer clients to us);
We answered a 23 email requests for advice and information this month including 6 on family matters and 5 on conveyancing and received 3 new client instructions as a result
Receive email notification of changes to this page with this FREE service from
WatchThatPage.comThis page last updated 30 - Apr - 2008
Author: G. L. Hewstone
![]()
Back to Welcome about us advice menu legal aid client care privacy policy contact us
case studies for those with disabilities news vacancies links