header-logo header-logo

Angry lawyers protest against legal aid cuts

23 March 2007
Issue: 7265 / Categories: Legal News , Legal aid focus , Profession
printer mail-detail

More than 1,000 legal aid solicitors took to the streets this week to protest against proposed changes to the legal aid system that they say will hit the poorest members of society.

The Access to Justice Alliance (AJA), a coalition of advice organisations including Citizens Advice, the Law Centres Federation, Shelter and the Legal Aid Practitioners Group, were lobbying Parliament to ask for a review of government proposals for legal aid reform. Keith Vaz and Frank Dobson were among MPs addressing the group.

The demonstrators argue that legal aid amounts to less than 0.5% of government expenditure, that the budget is ‘remarkably stable’, that legal aid rates have lost 23% of their value after a 10-year price freeze, and that the resulting exodus of firms from legal aid has created access difficulties in housing and social welfare law advice.

Legal Action Group policy director Michael MacNeil says: “We are currently discussing future action we can take to protest.” This is likely to take place in May.

Alison Hannah, chair of AJA,

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
back-to-top-scroll