Society, SLAB renew legal aid pledges
17 Jun 05
First responses to consultation paper affirm commitment to further modernisation
The Law Society of Scotland and the Scottish Legal Aid Board have each committed themselves to improving the legal aid system, in their first reactions to the Executive's consultation paper on legal aid, "Advice for All", released today.
The two bodies, which with the Executive make up the Tripartite Group in which issues of legal aid reform are regularly discussed, each expressed the hope that more people would qualify for legal aid as a result of the review.
Caroline Flanagan, the Society's new President, has established an Access to Justice Committee, made up of solicitors and non-solicitors, which will respond to the review, as well as look at the wider issues relating to the provision of legal services in Scotland and the solicitor's role.
She said: "Access to justice is not only about people having their cases funded by legal aid. It is also about how and where people go to get legal advice in different parts of the country. Solicitors are already working in communities throughout Scotland to give people a high quality, professional legal advice, assistance and representation.
"However, if there is a shortage of solicitors offering civil legal aid - as anecdotal evidence suggests - the Society, Scottish Executive and Scottish Legal Aid Board need to work together to ensure that people can see a publicly funded solicitor if they need to.
"The strategic review will hopefully be the first step in providing the answers to how and where people continue to access legal services, and the Society will work with the Executive and the Scottish Legal Aid Board in addressing these issues."
Ian Smart, Convener of the new Access to Justice Committee, said: "In recent years an enormous amount of work has been done by the Society, the Scottish Legal Aid Board and the Scottish Executive, to modernise both civil and criminal legal aid.
"However, improving access to justice is an ongoing process which the Society is committed to in the long term."
Jean Couper, Chairman of the Scottish Legal Aid Board said:
"The Board is committed to improving and developing legal advice in Scotland that is funded by the taxpayer. These are important public services. Therefore I welcome very much this timely consultation setting out a range of changes, that can offer someone seeking help with a legal problem an improved Scotland-wide legal advice service that is accessible, high quality and delivers good value for the taxpayer."
"I also welcome Ministers' commitment to making the modernisation of the publicly funded legal advice system happen as early as possible. The consultation puts forward a range of proposals for reform. Some would lead to improvements we have sought, such as revising financial eligibility for civil legal assistance, to increase access to justice. Other important measures will ensure the system can be better planned and managed and that, for example, there is an adequate supply of quality assured providers of all types of legal assistance."
Promising to consider carefully the proposals in the consultation paper, she added: "We are committed to working with the Executive, legal profession, wider advice sector and other stakeholders to address ministers' decisions, and will respond quickly to introduce any short-term changes, as well as develop proposals and plans to implement other changes that cannot be taken forward in the short-term."