Law Society responds to offer on legal aid (1)

Responding to the offer from the Scottish Government on legal aid fees today, Friday, 1 July, Law Society of Scotland President Murray Etherington, said:

“A generation of underfunding in legal aid has left a system in crisis. This failure to act has meant record numbers of solicitors are leaving criminal defence and areas of civil law, simply because it is unaffordable to do legal aid funded work. It means some of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable in our society risk going without the legal advice and services they need, all because the government has refused to invest the money required.

“This latest announcement from the Scottish Government may recognise a serious problem to be solved. However, it falls far short of the investment we have argued for and which we believe is necessary to retain solicitors in the legal aid system to ensure access to justice for all.”

The Scottish Government anouncement is available to read on its website.