Lords Revolt Over Legal Aid Reforms and the Governments Response

Legal Aid Update from Lewis Rodgers Solicitors

There are hopes that the government will make changes to a few of its legal aid reforms after peers have expressed strong disapproval during the second reading of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill.

It has been reported in the Law Society Gazette that justice secretary Kenneth Clarke has ‘ditched the proposal to remove legal aid for clinical negligence claims’. However, the Ministry of Justice would not confirm this only saying: ‘That’s not an announcement that we’ve made and so the bill as it is, stands.’

During the eight-hour debate only three of fifty-four peers offered support to the Bill. Those who did not support the Bill described the cuts in scope as: ‘catastrophic’,
a ‘huge assault on access to justice’ and ‘constitutionally wrong’.

Despite defending the Bill Justice Minister Lord McNally said he would listen to the ‘strong concerns’ of those in opposition especially in regards to domestic violence, clinical negligence and advice at the police station.

In response to this strong criticism on the 1st December 2011 justice secretary Kenneth Clark announced that the Government have postponed the implementation of the legal aid reforms by six months from October 2012 to April 2013.
However, Lord Justice Jackson described this decision as holding the Bill in ‘escrow’ until the legislation takes effect in October 2012.

The elements to be postponed include:

  • The abolition of the Legal Services Commission
  • Introduction of new contracts for the delivery of civil legal aid
  • Implementation of a mandatory telephone gateway to access civil legal aid advice
  • Introduction of the revised eligibility criteria to access civil legal aid

Here at Lewis Rodgers Solicitors we offer legal aid for all types of family law matters and our legal aid family solicitors deal with children Issues, domestic violence, divorce, finances in divorce, separation, care cases and property
disputes.

We offer legal aid for all types of criminal matters and our legal aid criminal solicitors deal with all criminal and motoring matters in both the Magistrates and Youth Courts, at the Crown Court, and at Police stations, including arranging for representation at Court or during an interview with the Police. Our Stephen Rodgers is a Higher Court Advocate and can represent you also in the Crown Court and therefore throughout your entire case.

To see if you are eligible for Legal Aid you can go to the LCS website on:-

http://www.legalservices.gov.uk/public/can_i_get_legal_aid.asp

Eligibility Calculator:-

http://www.legalservices.gov.uk/civil/guidance/eligibility_calculator.asp

Be assured that if you qualify for legal aid and public funding you will receive the same high class advise and representation as a privately paying client, from the legal team here at Lewis Rodgers Solicitors.

Lewis Rodgers Solicitors will ensure that if legal aid is granted you will receive a high standard of service.  Contact our Legal Aid Solicitors today for an informal discussion and to arrange to have access to our half an
hour free consultation to ascertain your eligibility to Legal Aid.

Contact us to make an appointment today at
our:

Winsford office on: 01606 861 858;

Macclesfield office on: 01625 429114.