Law centres struggle to survive

[charitynjw]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2012/a...=EMCLAWEML1646

Law centres have always struggled to survive - now they must adapt or die

Legal aid and local authority cuts mean law centres are in danger. Islington and Rochdale law centres are fighting back...............

[Bill-K]

Re: Law centres struggle to survive

I don't know if forums like these can be held partly to blame. I hope not, as it it not what we set out to do. If justice is not affordable by all, then there is really no justice is there ?

[Celestine]

Re: Law centres struggle to survive

One morning a week, I see a very long queue of folk waiting to enter the Hove Citizens Advice Bureau at Hove Town Hall.

The current economic circumstances and let's face it 20 years of consumer bullying and cartel like behaviour by the banks, not to mention their reckless trading that has destroyed the economy, has caused a massive UPSURGE in demand upon free legal advice.

Even the pitiful state of marriage and child rearing is having an effect, look at how many people we see with child access and divorce issues.

Thank God for forums like our own, manned by dedicated souls, educating and empowering ever more people because if we didn't exist the CAB and Law Centres would probably buckle under the strain.

It's tragic that local Councils are being forced to cut such local services. The legal aid reforms have kyboshed 50% of the Law Centre funding, the local councils will inevitably cut their contributions.

And I am seeing these cuts first hand in my own job, it's hard to imagine how we can get any leaner right now. I'm just proud that my own employer has taken a very innovative approach to handling these cuts.

[Sparkie1723]

Re: Law centres struggle to survive

http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2012/a...=EMCLAWEML1646

Law centres have always struggled to survive - now they must adapt or die

Legal aid and local authority cuts mean law centres are in danger. Islington and Rochdale law centres are fighting back...............

All the more reason for L/B to be advertised and promoted giving as much help and assistance to people who have no access to justice by way of legal assistance.......that L/B keep on giving sound advice even though not legally qualified advice....... sound logical advice where possible and pointing people in the right direction with the smallest amount of expense and with the best speed possible to get legal advice
Thats my unqualified opinion.
The law, legal system solicitors lawyers govt want people to be beaten down by the law with no chance of fight back if they cannot screw money out of the people by charging them for legal representation.....then you won't get legal representation.........unless you are lucky enpugh to find a legally qualified person with morals, a heart for for justice......and there are VERY few of those around.............when I was practicing my trade as a full time auto electrician.............if I had been paid for the amount of times I helped and gave advice to people for nothing ..................I would have a lot more money than I nhave got now
Sparkie

[bluebottle]

Re: Law centres struggle to survive

Unfortunately, a small number of legal professionals have milked the Legal Aid Scheme and made it bad for other legal professionals and law centres. It would be better to restrict Legal Aid funding to Law Centres and law firms who do not have a history of milking Legal Aid than cut Legal Aid and deny people access to justice.