Families living on incomes 10%–30% below the minimum income standard are being refused legal aid to fight eviction due to the over-harsh means test, the Law Society has warned in its response to the government’s LASPO (Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012) review.
It said solicitors are routinely having to turn away people in need. Meanwhile, legal aid solicitors are part of an increasingly ageing profession, and this is leading to advice ‘deserts’ in certain areas.
‘If British justice still exists it is only for the wealthy, or the small number on very low incomes lucky enough to find a solicitor willing and able to fight a mountain of red tape to secure legal aid,’ said Law Society president Christina Blacklaws (pictured).
