Home Owner & Debtor Protection Act 2010 Takes Effect
27th August 2010
The Home Owner and Debtor Protection (Scotland) Act 2010, which improves the rights of mortgage borrowers facing repossession of their home on grounds of arrears, is due to take effect on 30 September 2010.
This new law will require mortgage repossession cases to call in open court, just like rent eviction cases, whereas previously lenders could obtain a repossession order by default. It will also impose pre-litigation conditions on lenders, who will have to satisfy courts that they have explored alternatives to repossession, and that repossession is the last resort and reasonable in the circumstances.
Renfrewshire Law Centre and the ...
RLC Participates in Meetings with Government and Legal Aid Board
26th July 2010
On Friday 23 July 2010 Renfrewshire Law Centre took part in meetings with representatives of the Scottish Government's Access to Justice Division then representatives of the Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) in a series of engagements set up by the Scottish Association of Law Centres (SALC) lasting the whole day.
Access to Justice Division
In the morning Jon Kiddie (RLC Principal Solicitor and SALC Secretary) and Angus McIntosh (Castlemilk Law Centre) met James Howe, Division Head, Karen MacIvor, Policy Manager, and other members of the Access to Justice Team, which has a largely new membership. The discussion examined such ...
Housing Market Recovery Spells Eviction for Homeowners
19th July 2010
Ironically, according to recent economic research undertaken by the Consumer Credit Counseling Service, as the housing market begins to recover, this may in fact trigger a surge in property repossessions as mortgage lenders adopt a more aggressive approach and enforce court orders that they had previously agreed to suspend during the economic slowdown and recession.
Renfrewshire Law Centre observed an increase in mortgage eviction cases during 2007 and 2008 followed by a drop during 2009 as lenders became more lenient. However, we expect this type of litigation to become more active in early course as the Homeowner & Debtor Protection (Scotland ...
Scottish Justice, £12 per Man, Woman & Child
7th July 2010
According to the Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) the cost to the public purse for legal aid will increase to £156.7 million this financial year, up 4% on last year when it was £150.4 million.
This represents only slightly over £30 per head of population, compared to UK spending of, for example, £613 on defence, £1,419 on education, and £1,919 on health per head of population.
Criminal legal aid spending is projected at £103.7 million (up from £98.4 million), while civil legal aid (including so called Advice & Assistance) is projected at £61.1 million ...
Schools Law Debating Competition
7th July 2010
In conjunction with the Paisley Snail Conference being planned by Renfrewshire Law Centre, the University of the West of Scotland, and the Murray Stable, there is also to be a School Law Debating Competition, which should culminate in a final match during the week of the Conference.
Plans for the School Law Debating Competition are in the early stages, but interested parties are welcome to register their interest by contacting the Law Centre:- jon@paisleylawcentre.co.uk
Parliamentarians Rally for RLC in Face of Funding Cuts
6th July 2010
In the face of dire economic times, Renfrewshire Law Centre is pleased to have the support of local parliamentarians, Wendy Alexander MSP, Hugh Henry MSP, and Douglas Alexander MP, who recognise the importance of our work and recently met Jon Kiddie, RLC Principal Solicitor, to discuss what spending cuts would mean for the Law Centre and the vital services we deliver to the people of Renfrewshire.
The Law Centre is also pleased to have the support of a number of local councillors.
To see the Law Centre's recent funding report, please click here (abbreviated format).
Lynn Jolly, PDE reporter ...
Council Blessing for Law Centre Snail Conference
29th June 2010
Renfrewshire Law Centre is extremely grateful to Renfrewshire Council for the support it has pledged for its Major International Conference celebrating the famous Paisley legal case of Donoghue v Stevenson, which is planned for 25 & 26 May 2012 (the 80th anniversary of the case). The case is perhaps one of the most famous in the world, and on 24 June 2010 the Council passed the following motion:-
The Council welcomes the Donoghue v Stevenson International Conference planned for 2012. The Council notes support from the Council is already ongoing with Renfrewshire Law Centre and the University of the West of ...
SALC & LCF Joint Talks
26th June 2010
The Scottish Association of Law Centres (SALC) and its English & Welsh counterpart, the Law Centres Federation (LCF), have spoken to each other with regard to possible future closer cooperation and joint working.
On 25 June representatives of each organisation took part in an informal conference call to discuss various options, which they will now take to their respective boards for further consideration.
While obviously Scottish law centres operate in Scotland which has its own distinct jurisdiction, legal system and Parliament, nonetheless law centres on either side of the border share common aims, needs and challenges, therefore may gain much from ...
Renfrewshire Council Announces Spending Strategy
18th June 2010
Difficult choices for difficult times
The Council has made a public announcement in respect of its strategy for spending and cuts in the face of a likely reduction in financial support from central government. The announcement, which is available to view on the Council website, states as follows:-
The UK recession we're only now emerging from has significant consequences for all of us, and the public sector is no different. Scotland receives a share of UK public spending in the form of a block grant, which is then allocated by the Scottish Government to fund the NHS, local government ...
Lawyers Face the Axe
15th June 2010
LAWYERS SEEK ADVICE ON NEW CAREERS AND REDUNDANCY
Originally published in Scottish Legal News e-bulletin, 15 June 2010
A charity that provides health support and advice to solicitors has reported a surge in the number of lawyers seeking information on redundancy and alternative careers due to the recession.
Figures for the beginning of 2010 from LawCare show that by far the most popular downloads from its website are those giving advice about potential new jobs for lawyers and job losses.
The charity has also received a rise in calls from every branch of the profession, including those employed in private ...