Junior HLPA – housing law practitioners association

Junior News

Legal aid under attack!

June 23rd, 2011

The Government has published its final proposals to change the legal aid system, alongside a legal aid bill. The formal response to the 5,000+ consultation responses is available on the MoJ website under “consultations – closed with response”. The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders bill has been getting a lot of press, but with most of it concentrating on the sentencing reforms the legal aid cuts have not had much publicity. The Bill is available on the parliament website www.publications.parliament.uk

This is the biggest shake-up to the legal aid system in years and some have said it could mean the end of legal aid as we know it. We’ve started a discussion on the HLPA forum. So anyone who would like to know more about what the changes will mean for their own work and what impact the reforms will have on their clients, should go to that section of the website.

For those who want some information on how to campaign against the cuts see www.justice-for-all.org.uk and www.soundoffforjustice.org

Junior Meeting 19 January

January 10th, 2011

Up until now meetings of HLPA Junior have been limited to the six founding members and have been held every 2 months. As it has now been just over a year since we formed, we wanted to organise a wider meeting open to all members of HLPA Junior.

We aim to hold the meeting from 6pm on 19th January at the University of Westminster, just before the main HLPA meeting which starts at 7pm.
Portland Hall
University of Westminster
4 Little Titchfield Street
London, W1W 7UW

We would like to hear and share ideas for next steps for HLPA Junior, both in terms of organisation and activity. We’d very much welcome your thoughts before the meeting so we have a rough agenda, and for people who can’t make it to the meeting but want to get involved, please email us beforehand too.

Thanks very much, and look forward to seeing you on 19th.

Legal Aid Debate Tuesday 14th December 2010

December 13th, 2010

Karen Buck MP has been allocated an adjournment debate on Tuesday 14th December 9.30 – 11 am at Westminster Hall, the House of Commons. The subject is ‘Legal Aid’.

This is an opportunity to inform MPs about the issues in the Green Paper and how it will affect their constituents. Please could you contact your MP, notify them of the debate and ask them to attend.

Junior social

December 9th, 2010

Thanks to everyone who turned up to the Junior HLPA drinks on 25 November. There were some interesting discussions had, that’s for sure. And it was great to finally meet some of you and put faces to names at the bottom of emails. We’ll be organising another social event in the New Year and will post up the details here.

For the full archive of Junior HLPA news, see here.

Junior Articles

Why did you want to be a barrister specialising in housing law?

January 13th, 2011

“Why did you want to be a barrister specialising in housing law?” is a question I am often asked and, unless you already have a background in housing, probably one you, the reader, are asking yourself. It is not for everyone. If it is fame, excitement, drama and money you are after, then you are probably better off looking elsewhere (or considering a career other than law altogether).

That is not to say that housing law is not interesting; far from it. As a barrister specialising in housing law you will be required to be not only an expert in traditional [... read more]

A day in the life of a trainee housing solicitor

December 9th, 2010

I can honestly say that each day is eventful, and I never know quite what is round the corner. Take yesterday as an example. I arrived at work at 8.30. I closed and billed two files. This helps to bring in money, and is just as important to the firm’s business as getting new clients.

I then wrote a letter threatening court proceedings on behalf of a private client to a housing association landlord, who for over a year has failed to take responsibility for a faulty boiler system that has left my client without hot water and heating.

At 11am I [... read more]

I decided to become a housing solicitor because…

December 9th, 2010

I decided to try to qualify as a housing solicitor when I was a local councillor in a London Borough. The majority of the people who came to see me in my “surgery” wanted help with a housing problem of some kind. Sometimes I was able to intervene with the Council to get something done but more often than not all I could do was refer them to a solicitor.

I came to learn how important access to safe, secure, quality housing is to people’s welfare. Lots of people in public life talk about the importance of health and education but [... read more]

About Junior HLPA

June 6th, 2010

By joining HLPA Junior Group you will have the opportunity to share ideas and enter into discussions with people at a similar stage in their training, attend seminars specifically prepared for people at your level and further HLPA’s aims. Once you are a member of HLPA Junior Group you will always have a group of people available to ask any questions you may have, particularly those you feel you can’t ask your tutor or supervisor for fear of looking stupid! You will also have the opportunity to be involved in preparing responses to consultation papers and involvement in research [... read more]

For the full archive of Junior HLPA articles, see here.