About: Roger

Roger Smith is an expert in domestic and international aspects of legal aid, human rights and access to justice.

Recent Posts by Roger

Surviving Armageddon: BC 1 England 0

Cuts of around 40 per cent; government policy to fund only what is required by judges; mass firings of legal aid staff; replacement of a recalcitrant board of the equivalent of the Legal Services Commission and the appointment of a trustee to hammer through belt tightening. You think we have...
Read more

Just do it: responding to the human rights debate

Three major figures in the higher judiciary – Laws, Sumption and Judge – have all within a few days criticised the structure of human rights protection in the UK. Michael Howard, onetime Tory leader, left the latest – a speech by Lord Judge last night audibly saying that his attack...
Read more

International legal aid: the latest

The tenth annual conference of the International Legal Aid Group (see www.ilag-net.org)  was held in The Hague in June.  I read all the papers; reviewed all the presentations; and attended all the sessions (except the criminal one which shared time with quality). I required nudging to keep awake only once...
Read more

Recent Comments by Roger

    No comments by Roger yet.