Law Society makes legal aid reform plea

The Law Society of England and Wales has urged the new Prime Minister to carry out the long-promised legal aid reforms.

These reforms centre on the way in which access to legal aid is means tested. The Law Society commissioned a report almost a decade ago that was titled ‘Priced Out of Justice’. This highlighted the fact that the means testing method for legal aid had not kept pace with living costs, leading to dire consequences for the most vulnerable.

Many of those in poverty do not currently qualify, due to the outdated means test. It was last revised 17 years ago, with considerable inflation having taken place since then. The Law Society has expressed the most concern when it comes to private family law cases.

Over three times as many people are now forced to represent themselves in such cases compared with 2013. This is because they cannot afford family law barristers in North Wales or England. In terms of legal aid mediation services, there has been a fall of 61% in referral numbers during the same period.

Reforming the means test is something that the last few governments have all stated that they would do. Now, the Law Society wants Andy Burnham’s administration to deliver on that.

It has called for the thresholds for eligibility to be periodically revised, to match inflation. It states that this would ensure that those who need it can always access it.

If you want to speak to affordable family law solicitors in North Wales, give Bennett Smith Solicitors a call today.