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Why legal aid is important
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What is social justice?
Our work is fundamental to social and legal justice. In a democratic society all citizens have a right to access justice and get a fair trial.
Many people struggle to understand their legal rights and obligations. They often feel helpless when faced with problems. Without help they are unable to resolve these issues.
The LSC helps people understand their legal obligations and if necessary enforce their legal rights. Our work protects people's rights, ensures they get a fair trial and helps them play a fuller role in society.
Facts and figures
In any given year legal problems such as divorce, eviction or debt will be experienced by:
- 1 in every 4 people
- 1 in 3 long-term sick or disabled people
- 1 in 2 unemployed people
- 1 in 2 lone parents.
The LSC funds legal advice and representation to people held in police stations, under investigation or facing criminal charges.
Of those people held in police stations:
- nearly 1 in 4 are held for more than 24 hours
- 1 in 5 are aged 16 or under
- 1 in 4 are considered vulnerable
- just over half of those held are charged
- no further action is taken with 1 in 5 cases.
In a typical year our legal aid funding will help:
- over 250,000 people involved in family disputes
- over 90,000 people struggling with debt
- around 130,000 people with their housing problems
- around 20,000 people suffering domestic violence
- over 90,000 people get the welfare benefits they are entitled to
- people held at police stations on more than 800,000 occasions
- ensure representation for people involved in more than 620,000 magistrates’ court appearances.
A total of two million people.
What are we doing?
We work with our partners including solicitors' firms, advice agencies and local authorities to make sure that people across England and Wales get the help they need.
The LSC:
- provides help through 5,400 solicitors’ offices and not-for-profit advice agencies
- funds 5,578 Duty Solicitors to provide advice at police stations and Magistrates’ Courts every hour of every day
- gives people easy access to information and advice through the Community Legal Service Direct telephone helpline, website and information leaflets
- provides direct help to the public through the Public Defender Service, our own network of specialist criminal solicitors.
Our wide network of partners includes:
- the courts
- National and Local Criminal Justice Boards, Youth Offending Teams and prisons
- GP’s surgeries and women’s refuges
- local authorities
- the National Offender Management Service.
How to get help with legal problems
- Worried about benefits or tax credits?
- Having problems with your child’s school?
- Are your debts out of control?
- Are you being treated unfairly at work?
- Are you having problems with your landlord?
Community Legal Advice can help with these kinds of problems if you are eligible for legal aid.
Call the helpline now on 0845 345 4345.
Calls cost no more than 4p per minute from a BT landline but calls from mobiles are usually more. Worried about the cost? Ask an adviser to call you back.
The helpline has a translation service if you would like advice in a language other than English or Welsh.
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Last updated: 27 July 2009