MoJ must invest much more to legal aid 'to meet the reality of need', say peers
The reduction in legal aid funding over the past decade has exacerbated existing barriers to justice, the House of Lords constitution committee said in a new, comprehensive report
Peers said affordable legal representation “enhances access to justice” and “supports the efficient operation of the justice system”. Conversely, the report points out that litigants in person can create additional work for the courts.
However, witnesses to the inquiry “repeatedly” cited cuts to the legal aid budget as restricting access to legal advice and undermining access to justice.
The report states: “Accurate legal advice at an early stage can help to reduce the burden on the courts by facilitat...
