Minister’s announcement heralds new era for legal advice

7 September 2006

The changes announced in the Scottish Parliament this afternoon by Hugh Henry MSP, Deputy Minister for Justice, herald a new era for access to justice and how people seek help with their legal problems, according to the Scottish Legal Aid Board. The Board says the significant changes to legal aid to allow it to fund non-lawyer advice organisations and to directly employ solicitors to offer civil legal services will be widely welcomed and will make a real difference to improving public advice services.

Iain A Robertson CBE, Chairman of the Scottish Legal Aid Board said:

“I welcome very much the Minister’s announcements this afternoon on changes to legal aid and advice provision. These are significant changes that will be widely welcomed because they make real improvements to people getting the right help and advice for their problems.”

“Legal advice, information and representation services funded by the taxpayer are essential justice services to ensure that those who need the law are not excluded from using it. We have said there needs to be better joint planning and delivery of these publicly funded legal assistance in Scotland, and the measures announced today are important steps towards this.”

“We value the work of the legal profession in delivering legal aid to enable people to access the justice system, and today’s changes will complement these current services.”

“We very much welcome the Minister’s intention to allow the Board to grant fund advice organisations, providing recognition for their valuable role, which complements the services provided by lawyers. We have long called for the legal aid system to recognise the expertise of a wide range of advisers by providing funding beyond the traditional legal aid scheme that focuses on services provided by lawyers. As part of more co-ordinated system, we proposed that we should be able to fund services provided by both lawyers and also by other advisers. We are therefore delighted to see this change being made.”

“We also welcome the Minister’s decision to enable the Board to employ solicitors to directly offer civil legal aid services. There are very many committed solicitors and firms who continue to provide a quality civil legal aid service in most parts of the country. However, in some areas of the country, particularly rural areas, and for some types of case, there are now fewer solicitors providing a civil legal aid service. We have shared the concerns expressed about these possible gaps in supply. The change announced today for the Board to employ experienced solicitors to provide a civil legal aid service is a significant step and will lead to better access to justice for those who need it.”

“We welcome the principle established today that legal assistance, both civil and criminal, will be provided by a combination of salaried solicitors and those in private practice.”

“We support the Ministers’ view that PDSO, the public defence solicitors’ office network should be expanded. We welcome his decision to see the network expand further from where they currently operate in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness, and look forward to working on identifying the next locations. We believe that the PDSO not only offers value for money, but offers clients a more holistic service and enables valuable insight into the operation of the criminal justice system.”

“We are committed to improving and developing publicly funded legal advice in Scotland. We will be working in partnership with the Scottish Executive, the legal profession and others to deliver the changes announced today. Together we will make the 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.”

Ends

Journalists please contact:

Colin Sim tel (direct) 0131 240 2033, or email simco@slab.org.uk

Notes for editors

1. The Board’s mission is to promote the development and delivery of appropriate access to quality legal assistance for those eligible, in a cost-effective manner. In 2004-2005 providing legal assistance cost the taxpayer£152.4 million, with 428,821 grants of legal aid being made.

2. Legal aid allows people who would not otherwise be able to afford it to get help for their legal problems. Legal aid and advice and assistance can only be accessed through a solicitor. The Board’s mission is to promote the development and delivery of appropriate access to quality legal assistance for those eligible, in a cost-effective manner.

3. For more information, visit the Board's website www.slab.org.uk