Pair up with a Peer

Many thanks to the campaigners who contacted 'their' peer several times whilst the House of Lords was examining the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill over winter/ spring 2011-12.

The opposition in the House of Lords to many of the most damaging changes to legal aid led to real and lasting improvements which will make a real difference to thousands in desperate need of legal advice.

See our round up for details on what was achieved.

More information on the 'pair up with a peer' scheme

Campaigners were asked tot spare some time over a few months to get to know a peer well. Justice for All paired them up as best we could with peers with similar perspectives, based on campaigners relevant background (eg if you’re a lawyer or advisor) and areas of interest in the Bill (for example disability issues, employment law, or perhaps children).

No experience needed! Justice for All provided campaigners with lots of materials and guidance. But more than just a few clicks was needed - campaigners needed to be able to email and write to your peer several times, perhaps even talk on the phone or meet them in person, and always to add their personal and considered views on why legal aid is so important.

More information on how to lobby your Peer...

Justice for All member the Legal Aid Practitioners Group held two workshops for campaigners on what happens now that the Bill has reached the Lords and how they can effectively lobby members of the House of Lords.

Justice for All has produced a guide to lobbying Lords based on the sessions -

LobbyingPeersGuide-4-.pdf (Adobe PDF - 128Kb)