What future for legal aid?
In an open letter to the Lord Chancellor & Secretary of State of State for Justice, the Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke QC MP, published today in NLJ, Carol Storer, director of the Legal Aid Practitioner’s Group (LAPG) asks the government to rethink its plans for the proposed changes to legal aid funding.
Dear Lord Chancellor
Next Monday, 14 February 2011, is the last date for responding to the Ministry of Justice’s Consultation Proposals for the Reform of Legal Aid in England and Wales.
The proposals, which are estimated to have a cumulative impact of £395m–£440m on a budget of £2.1bn, will have a disproportionate impact on vulnerable women, children, black and minority ethnic clients, and those living with disability and mental health problems.
The government plans to remove legal aid for welfare benefits work, debt matters where the client’s home is not at immediate risk, employment and many housing matters. In addition, all immigration matters will be taken out of scope where the litigant is not detained.
Advice on detention will be covered
