SLAB welcomes Kirsten Oswald MSP as Minister with responsibility for legal aid

The Scottish Government has confirmed that Kirsten Oswald MSP has responsibility for legal aid and SLAB following her appointment as the Minister for Victims and Community Safety.

Ms Oswald took over the post from Siobhian Brown MSP, who has been appointed as Minister for Children. Neil Gray MSP was appointed as Cabinet Secretary for Justice.

SLAB’s Chair, Bill Moyes, has written to the Minister, congratulating her on her appointment and welcoming the government’s commitment to reform legal aid, including work to simplify the current system, reform fees and develop a more responsive future model of legal assistance.

Mr Moyes said: “We have said publicly that reform is needed to ensure the system can better meet people’s needs, improve accessibility and support a modern, user-centred service.

“We have also been clear that meaningful change will require legislative action as well as close collaboration across government, the legal profession and advice providers.

“This matters, not only for the effective operation of legal aid, but for access to justice more broadly and for the long-term sustainability of a system on which many people across Scotland rely.”

With the SNP manifesto committing to introduce legislation to reform legal aid in the first year of the parliament, Mr Moyes said SLAB was ready to support the Minister as she makes decisions on the future shape of the legal aid system.