subject: Local solicitors suffer due to lack of legal aid [print this page] After the recent award of legal aid contracts, it is estimated that nearly half family law firms will close down in October. Local solicitors have warned that the already under-invested family law division will go into "complete meltdown" in October.
Piers Pressdee, QC, and Alan Bean, co-chairmen of the Association of Lawyers for Children, say: "Numerous parents at risk of losing their children to care and adoption will find themselves unrepresented or, at best, poorly represented. The same fate will befall countless children, too."
There is no arguing with the statistics. There are nearly 2,400 family law firms in England and Wales. But 1,100 of those firms will probably close, as they were unsuccessful in their bids for legal aid contracts. Legal aid contracts start from the 14th of October, but because of the lack contracts, some families may be forced to leave their local solicitors and travel further afield.
Even those solicitors who have been granted legal aid contracts are not happy: "This is a disastrous outcome that the Legal Services Commission can surely not have expected or desired and is based on an irrational mechanical system of scoring solicitors.
"Many small and medium-sized practices will be closed down although they do excellent work, are highly accessible and known to their communities.
"Even larger firms have been hit if they do not meet the arbitrary requirements and preferences of the LSC, which includes, for example, doing enough divorce money cases which is irrelevant for many firms in poor areas.
"When I have told judges, social workers, guardians and local authorities the names of these firms there is incredulity that they will not be able to work for clients in future."
Family law is not the only victim. Social welfare departments are facing the need to tighten their belts or even closure. It is estimated that there will be a 30 per cent cut in social welfare contracts. These contracts help those are dealing with housing benefit complaints, welfare and debt.
Not surprisingly, there has been a massive protest, with the Law Society leading the way.
The President of the Law Society stated: "It is clear that the outcome of the tender process has been to throw possibly hundreds of good firms out of the legal aid scheme."
And while some may cry that it is just solicitors complaining about losing business, that really is not the case.
"Although this issue can be portrayed as lawyers being worried about losing business, the real issue is about access to justice for the vulnerable in our society.
"All of this has taken place without any consideration by MPs. Imagine if the number of doctors' surgeries was reduced by 46 per cent there would be a national discussion. Legal aid is a service provided to the poorest in society. The question is will these changes improve the service to clients?"
A spokesman of the Legal Services Commission said: "The 1,300 firms who were awarded contacts were the highest quality it is as simple as that. There was no strategy to reduce numbers."
If you face losing your family or social welfare solicitor, contact QualitySolicitors, and we will find you a local branch with local solicitors for your convenience.
