Labour Government Reforms Threaten Access To Legal Advice

Warning that the Government's plans to reform the legal aid system could leave vulnerable clients without access to justice as the proposals could force several hundred law firms out of business, reducing the level of advice services available, Paul Holmes, Liberal Democrat MP for Chesterfield said:

"I am increasingly concerned that the reforms that have been proposed by the Government could prove damaging for many people in Chesterfield. What particularly worries me is that vulnerable people rely most heavily on the service, and could be most at risk of losing access to quality legal advice, at times when it could make a real difference in their lives, such as over housing and family issues.

"Legal aid is a vital part of our justice system and is clearly in need of reform, but it is apparent that the current plans will only serve to worsen existing problems, rather than solve them. I have signed the Legal Aid Reform Early Day Motion to call on the Government to guarantee a legal aid system that ensures quality representation and fair access to justice for all."

Clare Lodder from the Chesterfield Law Centre said: "We are extremely concerned about the maintenance of quality in legal services delivery. We have an excellent record in achieving positive casework outcomes and client satisfaction levels but we are worried that this will be damaged by the proposed reforms.

"There will be too much pressure to reach quick outcomes rather than the best results for our clients and fixed fees will undermine our ability to take on complex cases."

Desmond Hudson, Law Society Chief Executive, added: "I welcome Paul Holmes MP's support for this motion. The level of backing from MPs across all parties highlights the extent of concern about the risks being taken on legal aid and access to justice."

"These proposals are being rushed through without the detailed consideration that they need bearing in mind the risks they pose to access to justice. It is in the interests of society that the Government finds the money to fund the legal aid system. Theoretical eligibility for legal aid is meaningless if there are no lawyers to represent the most vulnerable in society."

The Legal Aid Reform Early Day Motion reads:

That this House, while accepting that the legal aid system is in need of reform, is concerned that the Government's planned implementation of Lord Carter's proposals could force several hundred law firms out of business leaving vulnerable clients without access to effective representation; is concerned that the proposals identified in the Carter Review could further endanger the supplier base; notes that the changes to the proposals announced by the Government on 28th November 2006, while welcome, do not go far enough; welcomes the Law Society's `What Price Justice' campaign to boost awareness of the potential risk to the most vulnerable people in society and notes that it is supported by MIND, the NSPCC, Shelter, the Refugee Council, the Child Poverty Action Group and others; and calls upon the Government to guarantee a legal aid system ensuring quality representation and fair access to justice for all.

The Government's reforms include introducing competitive price tendering and fixed fee pricing in the legal aid sector on the back of a review carried out last year.

The Early Day Motion forms part of the Law Society's What Price Justice? campaign to boost awareness of the threat the measures pose to legal aid users. For more information about the Law Society's campaign contact the Law Society press office on 020 7320 5811.