‘Fat cat’ lawyers and ‘illegal’ migrants: the impact of intersecting hostilities and toxic narratives on access to justice

ABSTRACT

This article examines how three spheres of hostility intersect to prevent effective access to justice for those living with insecure immigration status. The neoliberal governance model, the barren justice landscape and the hostile environment are supported by the cynical construction of the ‘fat cat’ lawyer and the toxic ‘folk devil’ narrative of the ‘bogus’ asylum seeker. To the extent that the judiciary have frustrated the more obvious, ideologically driven, attempts to restrict access to justice for migrants, the austerity predicated measures pursuant to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) have completely altered the legal landscape. The analysis is informed by the findings of the ‘Legal advice and support for persons with insecure status’ project (hereafter LAPIS) in Nottingham which explores the challenges faced by service providers and the lived experiences of those with insecurity of status. It is clear that access to justice is a passport to the realisation of other rights, yet participants struggled to access a remedy because legal advice is too often out of reach.     

Lost in space? the role of place in the delivery of social welfare law advice over the telephone and face-to-face

ABSTRACT

Advice that is provided exclusively over the telephone has been promoted by government as more convenient and accessible than face-to-face appointments. The resulting push towards telephone-only provision, as implemented by the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, challenges the long history of association between social welfare law advice and local delivery within disadvantaged communities. This article reports on qualitative research comparing telephone and face-to-face advice which uncovers the continuing relevance of place in the dynamics and mechanics of social welfare law provision. Familiarity with the geographical location, knowledge of local policies and procedures, relationships with opponents and allies, and an understanding of the ‘local legal culture’ mean that face-to-face advisers are often able to conduct their legal casework more effectively. Conversely, local knowledge is unlikely to be available to Community Legal Advice telephone advisers. This research suggests that, in addition, telephone-only advisers may be developing a more narrow understanding of the essential qualities of casework. These findings are particularly significant in view of the likely future expansion of remote methods of delivery in legal aid work.     

论公安机关侦查人员法律素养的差异化培养*--以教育培训为侧重

十八届四中全会以来，依法治国成为整个社会发展的主题。刑事侦查领域也提出了侦查法治化的思想，其中加强刑侦队伍正规化建设，提升刑侦队伍执法素养成为一个重要的环节。应该剖析侦查人员法律素养的内涵，立足于侦查人员不同的学习背景，提出差异化培养的思想，并通过有针对性的教育培训等途径提高侦查人员的法律素养，推动侦查工作的法治化进程。     

浅论清末民初章士钊的政党思想

章士钊是中国近代史上著名的思想家和理论家,他注意观察和研究近代民主政治,尤其是政党政治,他强调党纲的重要性,推崇英国式的政党内阁制,并由此提出了毁党造党说,即政党和国内政治资源的重新优化组合,一方面,所谓党者尽毁之,既毁其名又毁其实,另一方面,造有党纲之党,在国内形成两大政党对抗的局面。毁党造党说轰动一时,但因不符合中国的国情而遭到失败。     

A Positive,Communitarian Right to Security in the Age of Super-Terrorism

Post-9/11, and especially with the dramatic rise of Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the author advocates a collective right to security. Plotting a course through state absolutism and liberalism, one finds communitarianism as a philosophy to support this right to security. The communitarian right to security is based on an interpretation of European human rights law, particularly positive duties of the state, to protect the rights to life of individuals from violations by non-state actors such as suspected terrorists. But for reasons of practical enforcement, limitations to the exercise of the right are also articulated.     

马克思主义中国化的比较研究

马克思主义中国化的关键之处就是立足解决中国问题,既要符合马克思主义的基本原理,又要有理论创新。多视角研究马克思主义中国化,对于在新的历史时期更深刻地认识马克思主义中国化具有重要的意义。     

实践中的证据法——中国证据法实施情况调查研究

证据制度是本次中国司法文明指数体系的一个重要一级指标,我们选取了四项二级指标进行了评估,通过问卷调查和数据分析,并结合中国证据法治指数问卷调查的数据,可以得出以下结论:当事人证据权利缺乏有效保障,侦查人员的证据意识有所增强,非法证据排除规则有待落实,以及司法证明过程缺乏合理规范。     

侦捕诉一体化工作机制的运作原理及实践完善——兼论捕权上提的影响及应对

检察机关在实践中推行的侦捕诉一体化工作机制,是刑事诉讼“互相配合”原则的具体体现.捕权上提改革开展后,给该机制的运作带来诸如办案时间紧张、不捕率上升等问题.检察机关应积极应对捕权上提,整合控诉犯罪资源、采取措施,完善侦捕诉一体化工作机制.     

困境与完善：论我国通缉制度

通缉作为一项强制性措施，在司法实践中被广泛运用，能够有效地打击犯罪、防止犯罪蔓延、保障诉讼活动的顺利进行。当前，我国通缉制度面临通缉对象模糊、行使主体不明确、发布范围尴尬、撤销程序有瑕疵、救济机制缺失等困境，一定程度上影响了其效能的发挥。因此，欲完善通缉制度，需要界定通缉对象、明确行使主体、调整通缉范围、完善撤销制度、建立救济机制等。     

恶意透支型信用卡诈骗司法认定中若干疑难问题探析

最高人民法院、最高人民检察院联合发布的《关于办理妨害信用卡管理刑事案件具体应用法律若干问题的解释》对恶意透支作出了进一步规定,并确定了"经发卡银行两次催收后超过三个月仍不归还"的限制条件。但在司法实践中,对于如何理解经发卡银行两次催收后超过三个月仍不归还、两次催收的认定、三个月的宽限期计算等问题仍存在争议,本文试对以上几个问题进行探讨。