New rules governing legal aid in England and Wales came into force yesterday (April 1st), which the Government says will save £350m from a £2.1bn budget, amid warnings that the changes could encourage people to take the law into their own hands.
The changes, which are being made in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act, could see public funding removed from entire areas of civil law, including divorce and child custody battles.
While advice on some employment and education law, personal injury and some criminal negligence cases, immigration and some debt and housing problems will also qualify.
However, cases that will continue to receive funding include family law cases that involve domestic violence, asylum and debt of housing matters where a person’s home is at immediate risk.
Despite the Government saying that it is safeguarding legal aid for those that really need it, the Law Society is warning that the changes could damage the whole of society and encourage people to take the law into their own hands in a bid to seek justice.
The Government did however lose in the House of Lords over some of the changes only a few days ago. Peers backed a motion from former Labour justice minister Lord Bach, which “regretted” the coalition had broken a promise on exemptions.
Opponents said ministers had vowed to continue allowing legal aid for appeals on a point of law against a decision by a tribunal, but had not done so and his motion was passed by 166 votes to 161.
Peers also passed crossbencher Baroness Grey Thompson’s regret motion on access to legal aid for disabled people by 163 votes to 148, while a third regret motion, from Labour’s Baroness Scotland, on access to legal aid for victims of domestic violence was passed by 156 to 140.