CAB reports problems with legal aid access

Some of the people who require legal aid fail to get it, a charity has claimed.

According to a report compiled by Citizens Advice to mark the 60th anniversary of legal aid, too many people are trying to access it and failing.

It found that only 38 per cent of people who experience legal problems succeed in getting such help.

Citizens Advice suggests that barriers such as patchy geographical provision, complex accessibility criteria and long waiting times are contributing to the problems.

Chief executive of the organisation David Harker said: "Over the last 60 years, legal aid has played a vital role in securing legal rights in the UK. But too often we see people discouraged from pursuing their cases because they are faced with access barriers."

Older people and those who are geographically isolated or socially marginalised are particularly disadvantaged, he added.

Operating a network of 426 bureaux in England and Wales, Citizens Advice is an independent registered charity.
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13/07/2009 16:27

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