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13 November 2009 / Carolyn Regan
Issue: 7393 / Categories: Opinion , Legal aid focus
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In the eye of the storm

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In its 60th year, the legal aid scheme, in common with the rest of the public sector, has to live within its means.

In its 60th year, the legal aid scheme, in common with the rest of the public sector, has to live within its means.

My organisation, the Legal Services Commission (LSC) is working within a fixed budget, and that’s not going to change. However, we remain resolutely focused on our clients, and that’s not going to change, either.

Indeed, within our budget of just over £2bn per annum we’re helping more people than ever with a record 2.9m acts of legal advice last year.

We are meeting—and will continue to meet—the increased demand from clients struggling to deal with the impact of the recession by increasing the amount of appropriate local services. One way is through Community Legal Advice Centres and Networks (CLACs and CLANs).

Increased integration

This integrated approach to advice, jointly commissioned by the LSC and various local authorities, provides a one-stop service that has gone some

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