Press Release
LSC rejects Law Society claims of poor access to legal aid services
Wednesday 8 November 2006
The Legal Services Commission (LSC) today rejected The Law Society’s claims, at the launch of their ‘What Price Justice’ campaign, that there is poor access to legal aid services.
Currently there is adequate provision of services across most of England and Wales, contrary to claims of 'advice deserts'. The number of people who received civil legal help in 2005/06 was a six-year high. Almost 95% of the population live within five miles of a civil legal aid provider, which is comparable to other public services.
The Law Society Chief Executive, Des Hudson, today made a number of claims about areas suffering from poor access to legal aid services. These claims are not substantiated by fact.
For example he claimed: “There is an acute shortage of specialist provision across Lincolnshire, particularly in debt, housing and welfare benefits law”. The reality is:
- throughout Lincolnshire there are eight offices providing housing advice, eight offices providing debt advice and six offices providing welfare benefits advice. Solicitors firms and not-for-profit advice agencies provide the advice.
- over 2,600 people in Lincolnshire received advice to help them with debt, housing and welfare benefit problems last year.
The Law Society also claimed Lord Carter’s proposals were a threat to the legal aid system.
In fact, the Carter proposals are specifically aimed at ensuring the sustainability of the legal aid system so that it can continue to provide the help that clients need. We are determined to get it right and that is why we have conducted a thorough consultation and are now looking at the proposals in the light of the responses.
The ultimate aim is to create a system that is better for the client, the taxpayer and legal aid providers. Improving quality for the client is at the heart of the reforms.
Media contact
Gary Spink - Tel: 020 7759 0493 or 07843 643052
Last updated: 28 December 2006