Wellington, April 8 NZPA - It could be a year before legal aid lawyers face competency testing under reforms of legal aid services outlined by Justice Minister Simon Power yesterday.

Wellington, April 7 NZPA - Competency testing for legal aid lawyers is one of the latest steps in the reform of legal aid services, Justice Minister Simon Power said today.

By Ian Llewellyn of NZPA Wellington, Feb 24 NZPA - Up to a thousand victims of historic abuse could be offered "wellness payments" to settle their claims, MPs were told today.

Wellington, Feb 17 NZPA - A law designed to ease financial pressure on victims of crime who receive legal aid to attend coronial inquests and parole hearings comes into force today.

Wellington, Dec 18 NZPA - The Government has decided to implement key recommendations in Dame Margaret Bazley's report on the legal aid system, Justice Minister Simon Power said today. Dame Margaret's report was released three weeks ago, identifying serious problems in the system.

Wellington, Dec 10 NZPA - Parliament has passed a law change designed to ease the financial pressure on victims of crime who receive legal aid to attend inquests and parole hearings.

Wellington, Dec 8 NZPA - The fallout from a damning review of legal aid has continued with the chief executive of the Legal Services Agency (LSA), Tim Bannatyne, losing his job.

Wellington, Nov 28 NZPA - Justice Minister Simon Power will go to a cabinet meeting on Monday with a plan to fix serious and deep-seated problems in the legal aid system. A shock review report issued yesterday revealed it was in crisis.

Wellington, Nov 27 NZPA - Legal aid is in for a major overhaul after a damning review report and a commitment from the Government to fix the serious problems it identified.

Wellington, Nov 27 NZPA - The New Zealand Law Society has welcomed today's damning review of legal aid which says a sea change is needed to fix the system.