Law Society to sue LSC

After the latest round of family law tenders by the LSC, major cuts to the number of specialist firms providing family legal aid work are planned.

This means, says the Law Society, that thousands of families will be denied access to justice.  And the opportunities for trainee solicitors to train in legal aid work in family law will decrease dramatically.  After the recent tenders, the number of firms who will do family law legal aid work will decrease drastically from 2400 to 1300.

Law Society President Linda Lee said:  “This severe and sudden reduction in the number of firms assigned to undertake family legal aid work will affect the most vulnerable in society.  Family law work is a difficult and sensitive area, and these changes will cause more distress for families already under pressure.”

She added: “The LSC should have stopped to consider the consequences of their actions, before pushing ahead and cutting vital services that clients need and that a civilised society expects to be provided.”