Law Firm warns over Legal Aid Reforms

As concerns grow around the government’s plans to reform legal aid one of the region’s leading law firms is warning that the changes could have devastating consequences for vulnerable people.

Colchester-based Fisher Jones Greenwood LLP, handles over 1500 legal aid cases a year, and is one of the few law firms in East Anglia to hold legal aid contracts for criminal, family, housing, welfare benefits, education, employment, community care, personal injury and public law.

Partner Chris Graves at Fisher Jones Greenwood says that the reforms could mean that many firms will stop legal aid work altogether thus preventing hundreds of people getting access to justice.

Mr Graves who has special responsibility for the firm’s legal aid funding procedures and is also Chairman of the Legal Services Commission's Funding Review Panel which adjudicates on legal funding appeals across East Anglia, said: “The consequences will be extremely damaging. Legal aid is the hallmark of a decent society as it gives poor and disadvantaged people access to justice.

“Without good legal representation funded by legal aid, those who are vulnerable or on low incomes and who need important legal advice and help will not get it.”

Under new proposals, the government is planning to pay legal aid solicitors and other legal advice services, through a system of fixed fees and competitive tendering. Currently legal aid fees are paid on an hourly basis.

Tony Fisher Senior Partner at Fisher Jones Greenwood said: “In 2006 Fisher Jones Greenwood handled 1520 legal aid funded cases, but under these new proposals legal aid practices are going to suffer a significant reduction in income which will mean many will stop doing legal aid work altogether or only take on straightforward cases. This will leave many people unrepresented which is  extremely worrying. As a firm we have a long term commitment to the social welfare areas of law and we will continue our legal aid work for as long as we can. However, for firms who undertake smaller volumes of legally aided work it is going to be very difficult to continue after these reforms have been introduced.”

Mr Fisher and his colleagues at Fisher Jones Greenwood are backing the Law Society’s ‘What Price Justice’ campaign which has been set up to persuade the government to guarantee an adequately funded legal aid system ensuring quality representation and access to justice for all.