Half of British public don’t understand legal aid system

A survey by Bolt Burdon Kemp revealed that 46% of the British public did not understand the legal aid system or how they can get legal support and 51% said there were too many barriers to legal aid funding.

The law firm surveyed 2,000 people in England, Wales Scotland and Northern Ireland to uncover the relationship between the British public and the legal aid system.

Legal aid was first introduced in 1949, it allowed 80% of the British public to access free or affordable legal support, however by 2007, the government cut this down to only 27% and since then the government has made further cuts via the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act (LASPO).

The introduction of LASPO meant that legal aid was no longer available for many who needed it and those eligible found it hard to access.

Bolt Burdon Kemp’s research highlights an inequality within Britain’s legal aid funding system and confirms that LASPO has had a negative impact on the relationship between the state and society.

The Law Society of England and Wales Vice President Lubna Shuja said: “Many people, particularly those who are living below the poverty line, are regularly denied legal aid by a means test which is too stringent. They face serious and life-changing legal issues such as housing, employment and family law with no recourse to legal advice due to legal aid cuts.

“The legal aid system needs proper funding, otherwise there will continue to be inequalities between those who can afford to access legal support and those who cannot.”

Shuja added: “We ardently hope the outcome of the Independent Review of Criminal Legal Aid will recommend the UK government provides the funding necessary to keep the system viable and to ensure there is proper access to justice for all.”

Bolt Burdon Kemp said on its website: “We need to reassess the legal aid system to ensure it’s fit for purpose and can serve everyone fairly.”