Its report into civil legal aid, ‘Running on empty’, published this week, highlights the devastating impact of the widespread closure of advice centres and legal aid law firms due to funding cuts.
It also warns of ‘inequality of arms’ where bereaved families at inquests are represented by a junior barrister with restricted preparation time and teams of counsel represent the state agencies involved.
Fee income for some legal aid work has ‘dramatically reduced’, leading practitioners to work longer hours or turn to private work. This is leading to concerns about the future sustainability of the sector.
Bar Council Chair, Derek Sweeting QC said the civil legal aid system was ‘kept going by nothing more than the goodwill of the legal profession’.
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