Dont slash and burn legal aid

Peter Lodder QC, chairman of the Bar Council, has called on MPs not to “slash and burn” legal aid as the government’s bill enters its report stage in the Commons today.

interesting article in today's Solicitor's Journal, click here for the full article

I don`t know about a perfect storm its seems more like a slow motion car crash that we all get to watch.

And who will this really effect, the most vulnerable as usual those who don`t have the cash for lawyers, a typical case a woman who has raised kids for years has little or no income and a guy with a decent wage, the very first part of mca s25 says the needs of kids under 18 should be the first consideration, and yet withdrawing public funding leaves that statute requirement at risk.

Many even those who appear confident can easily be intimidated by court and more so by solicitors and barristers, so what will happen if they are forced to act completely alone? the CAB can`t help court staff don`t/cant help, so whats left sites like wiki, ok its a good site but its no substitute for a lawyer.

So what happens if they both act in person, who compiles the bundle, how many lip`s can write a skeleton argument or provide written submission, many don`t even realise a notice of acting needs to be sent to court.

I`m willing to bet a decent slab of cheese and a bottle of single malt that this will lead to a huge number of adjournments with even greater delays in court than we have now, if some courts need six month now have a hearing what will it be like this time next year? a year, more, how will enforcement hearings progress or MPS?.

Wki is going to be very very busy indeed

It will be indeed, Dukey - these proposed cuts will have far reaching implications if they are implemented - which is highly likely.

I doubt very much if those making these decisions have actually ever been in the position that many here find themselves in - a little empathy would go a very long way. But these cuts aren't about people, its about money

I would like to say what a fantastic resource Wikivorce is - I have self represented in my child contact case whilst my ex-partner has had the benefit of legal aid which has certainly protracted proceedings!

I think it is an Absolute disgrace that whilst I am a tax payer and through lack of money having to self represent - my ex had had the benefit of tax payer's money of legal aid to assist his ludricrous claims through court and his unscrupulous solicitors and barristers have milked the legal system dry!

I always used to believe in the law doing the right thing but no more - dirty, underhand tactics by lawyers paid for by legal aid have tarnished my impression of the legal system in this country.

Myself, a hard working teacher have had to pay and continue paying for the disgraceful miscarriage of justice whereby my ex who is on benefits through alcoholism merely milks the system dry and doesn't have to pay a penny in maintenance to his own children.

In conclusion, I think the legal aid budget should be cut to make the legal system fair for everyone!! The sooner the better, then unscrupulous lawyers wouldn't be a law unto themselves!

There are scrupulous lawyers out there too, you know!

There are indeed, Jonathan, and they far-outnumber the very few unscrupulous ones

Due to his lack of legal aid, my stbx has got out of doing drug and alcohol tests...I am furious and because I am an LIP (I cant get legal aid either, despite being made redundant six months ago)....thankfully I'm now starting work. The already unjust system just hit an all time low. And who suffers most? As in most aspects of divorce, it is the childre. So diabolical.