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05/03/2013
Top Judge Hits Out At Legal Aid Cuts
Lord Neuberger, UK's most senior judge, has raised concerns over legal aid cuts.
He told the BBC: "My worry is the removal of legal aid for people to get advice about law and get representation in court will start to undermine the rule of law because people will feel like the government isn't giving them access to justice in all sorts of cases.
"And that will either lead to frustration and lack of confidence in the system, or it will lead to people taking the law into their own hands."
He said their would be an increase in the number of people who represent themselves in court because they could not afford or get legal aid for a lawyer.
"This will mean that court hearings will last longer, the burden on court staff and judges will increase.
"And you may find the savings the government thinks it's making in legal aid will be offset in other costs of courts and judges and court staff in supporting litigants in person."
(GK)
He told the BBC: "My worry is the removal of legal aid for people to get advice about law and get representation in court will start to undermine the rule of law because people will feel like the government isn't giving them access to justice in all sorts of cases.
"And that will either lead to frustration and lack of confidence in the system, or it will lead to people taking the law into their own hands."
He said their would be an increase in the number of people who represent themselves in court because they could not afford or get legal aid for a lawyer.
"This will mean that court hearings will last longer, the burden on court staff and judges will increase.
"And you may find the savings the government thinks it's making in legal aid will be offset in other costs of courts and judges and court staff in supporting litigants in person."
(GK)
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