This consultation response is submitted by Garden Court Chambers, which is a multi-disciplinary Chambers based in London. It has over 190 barristers (including 29 King’s Counsel) and is one of the largest in the country with over 50 years of experience in cases with a human rights context. We are the largest chambers delivering services funded by legal aid. Details are here.
Two important areas of our specialism practices are immigration and housing law. Our immigration team has 59 barristers, including nine King’s Counsel. We have been ranked as Band 1 in Chambers and Partners UK Bar Guide for 21 years and are top ranked in Legal 500.
Our housing team has 31 members, including three King’s Counsel. We have been ranked as Band 1 in Chambers and Partners for 20 years, and are also Band 1 in Legal 500, both for social housing.
Other members of chambers practise in other areas of civil law: public and administrative law, inquests, civil liberties, education, employment, environmental law, Court of Protection, community care and mental health; 34 of our members practise in family law; a third of our members practise in criminal law.
In our practices we act predominantly for individuals or not-for profit organisations. A large part of this work is either legally aided or, in the case of not-for-profit organisations, pro bono or with the benefit of a protective costs order. Some are conducted on conditional fee arrangements.
Although not always “high value” in monetary terms this work is invaluable for the individuals and organisations concerned and can often have wider public interest implications, playing a key role in access to justice often for disadvantaged groups, in ensuring equality before the law and in maintaining the rule of law by holding the executive and other public authorities to account.
Significant cohorts of the clients we represent face barriers in access to justice and effective participation in legal proceedings arising from factors such as physical or mental disability, race and ethnic origin, language, gender, education and social class. Many have a past experience of violence and abuse and are victims or potential victims of serious human rights violations in the UK and/or abroad.
Read Garden Court Chambers’ full consultation response here.
Find out more about the consultation: ‘Civil legal aid: Towards a sustainable future’ here.
