Legal Aid Cuts Challenged

Legal Aid

According to the Law Society Gazette more than 3,500 applications for civil legal aid in cases involving domestic violence or child abuse have been refused since reforms were introduced two years ago, official statistics have revealed.

Legal aid statistics published by the Ministry of Justice show that the Legal Aid Agency received 10,455 applications between April 2013 and December 2014 for civil representation legal aid in private family law cases where there was a risk of domestic violence or child abuse.

During the same period 6,916 applications were granted, though the ministry said not all applications granted in a period necessarily related to applications received within the same period. The majority of applications cite evidence relating to domestic violence.

The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, which came into effect in April 2013, removed legal aid from the majority of private family law matters. However, applicants are granted legal aid for cases where they can prove the incidence or risk of domestic violence or child abuse through a range of prescribed forms of evidence.

Meanwhile…

The Vote for Justice Rally, which is being organised by practitioner groups the Criminal Law Solicitors’ Association and London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association, will take place at Central Hall, Westminster, London, on 23 April.

CLSA vice-chair Robin Murray (pictured) said: ‘We’re hoping to achieve a mass demonstration of support for the idea that justice matters in this general election.

Lawyers are campaigning the reinstatement of Legal Aid.

Labour will abolish the government’s employment tribunal fee system as part of reforms to make sure that workers have proper access to justice, employers get a quick resolution, and the costs to the taxpayer are controlled.’

The government has insisted the fees are necessary to protect employers from frivolous claims and to ensure the taxpayer does not have to foot the bill.

Meanwhile, Welsh nationalist party Plaid Cymru has called for greater devolution of justice matters in the next parliament – including the devolution of all powers over criminal justice to the Welsh government.

In its manifesto, the party pledges to introduce a Welsh legal jurisdiction to codify the nation’s laws, to make clear which legislation applies only to Wales.

The party says it will oppose any moves by a UK government to scrap the Human Rights Act or withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights.

Plaid Cymru also wants hearings to be held in alternative locations such as council chambers and other public buildings, and to create dedicated ex-servicemen’s courts to recognise particular problems faced by former members of the armed forces.

 Compiled from the source - Law Society Gazette