Posts by Susan Bell

It has been 9 months since I started as a Trainee at LSA. Since the outset, I have been working with the Housing and General Court Department. The tasks assigned to me are centered around defending evictions and mortgage repossessions and the prevention of homelessness. In reflecting on my time since I joined, I can…

The government has announced that it is carrying out a consultation on proposed changes to the 2012 Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme. This is following the High Court’s finding that the government has not met a legitimate expectation to consult on the reform of the “unspent convictions rule”. This exclusion was introduced in 2012 which makes…

Legal Services Agency is proud to launch our new project, Disrupting Cycles of Disadvantage: Early Intervention in Homelessness. This project is funded by St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity (Frontline Fund) for three years. Around 40,000 people become homeless in Scotland each year, and those who encounter the criminal justice system are more likely to experience homelessness. Finding…

In 3 months’ time, I will be a second-year trainee. Sometimes, I need to stop and process that because it seems like only yesterday that I was applying for an ‘access to law course’. It’s safe to say that my experience as a Trainee has progressed vastly since my first article at the start of…

Legal Services Agency are pleased to invite you to the virtual launch of our new Employment Law Project. The main aim of the project is to protect employment rights to improve financial circumstances. We will do this by: Providing early legal advice; Supporting fellow grassroots advice agencies; and Bringing together stakeholder expertise to act strategically…

Legal Services Agency is pleased to invite you to join us for the virtual launch of our new Disability and Social Justice Project. The project has been designed to support and empower people living anywhere in Scotland to enforce their rights, challenge injustice and reduce discrimination. The project will involve the provision of specialist legal…

The last quarter of 2021 saw the Legal Services Agency launch a new project concerned with improving access to justice for disabled people in Scotland. Through developing a new specialist disability practice we will help disabled people in Scotland enforce their rights, challenge injustice, and reduce the day-to-day discrimination that they face While the project…

Starting was overwhelming. Coming from a High Street Firm into a Charity like LSA was a change. Your normal first day jitters were to be expected, then top that off with Covid 19 social distancing and masks. I kept thinking ‘how am I meant to smile at people when I have this mask on?’. Trivial…

A new report, “Charges for temporary homeless accommodation in Scotland – law and reality” has been published by the Legal Services Agency which examines the practice of charging for temporary homeless accommodation in Scotland, and whether local authorities are acting lawfully in this area. Background Individuals in Scotland who make a homelessness application to their…

We are excited to share our Annual Report highlighting developments over the year last year. To view our Annual Report in pdf, please click here LSA Annual Report 2021 or watch our video below.