News
Law Society calls for civil legal aid increase over unrepresented parties in family court
26th April 2024
Law Gazette
The Law Society today expressed its ‘extreme concern’ over the increased number of litigants in person in private family law cases in the decade since the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act came in to force.
In a call to the government, it said civil legal aid fees should be increased ‘so that legal aid providers remain viable’ and urged the government to uprate civil legal aid means test eligibility so more individuals on lower incomes can access justice. It also called for an increase in fees for the qualified legal representative scheme.
In 2023, neither the applicant nor the respondent was represented in 39% of private law cases.
Read more: Law Gazette
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