News in brief
The eligibility limit for civil legal aid is to be increased by 5% from 6 April 2009. The criminal legal aid limit will not be changed. Legal aid minister Lord Bach made the announcement at the Advice Services Alliance in London last week. In addition, the Community Legal Advice helpline is to open on Saturday mornings, and will have its opening hours extended from July, when the new family telephone service will go live, with the aim of helping 25,000 a year with family law problems.