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Legal Aid update

March 2015


Solicitors attempts to overturn the governments plans to cut the number of legal aid contracts by over 60% have failed, the 60% cut represents over 1000 legal aid contracts going, which is felt will seriously affect the access to justice.

Ironically the judge at the court of appeal dismissed the appeal on the basis that the plans were legally flawed.

The concern with the cuts are that a number of firms will go out of business and access to a solicitor will be restricted, it will be interesting to see how this will work if the accused has a right to a solicitor, will they just have to wait, or just be told one is not available?

I Feel the government has got this cut wrong, access to justice is a fundamental right, in a time when we celebrate 800 years since the signing of the Magna Carta, bringing the right to justice and the end to illegal imprisonment, we should be concerned about taking a step backwards, over the years many firms of solicitors have given up their legal aid contracts because the rates are so poor, now it seems the government are intent on damaging the core of the criminal legal system.

The solicitors taking the action against the government are set to consider their position and may take the case to the Supreme Court.


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