Legal Aid and The Future of Free Access to Justice: The conversation comes to Manchester

On Friday 20^th April, a high-profile panel will be speaking on Legal Aid and The Future of Free Access to Justice at an event in central Manchester, hosted by the Greater Manchester Law Centre. Panelists include former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Lord William Bach, Shadow Justice Secretary Richard Burgon MP, Young Legal Aid Lawyers Vice-Chair Siobhan Taylor-Ward and Black Solicitors Network Board member Joe Mensah-Dankwah.

The event will take place at the University of Law, 2 New York St, Manchester M1 4HJ, on Friday 20th April 2018, 18:00-20:00. It is open to everyone: lawyers, campaigners, students, and all members of the public.

Book your tickets here

Barristers on strike

Legal Aid and the crisis in the justice system have hit the headlines in April 2018, as 90% of the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) voted for direct action and barristers across the country are on strike. One of the first cases to be affected was a murder trial at the Old Bailey, when the solicitor contacted more than 20 chambers to find a barrister, but all refused to take the case. Angela Rafferty QC, chair of the CBA, said “We will fight to improve the justice system for us and everyone else. We announce this action… with heavy hearts”.

The Bach Commission

Lord William Bach chaired a Commission to review Legal Aid, and the results were published in autumn 2017. The Commission found that many people no longer try to launch legal challenges: the number of civil legal aid matters initiated has reduced by 84% from 2009-10 to 2016-17. The percentage of households eligible for legal aid has fallen from 80% to 29%. The Commission’s report was widely covered, including its proposal for a Right to Justice Act, which will establish a new right for individuals to receive reasonable legal assistance without costs they cannot afford. Richard Burgon MP stated that he is “excited by the idea in the report of a new, legally enforceable right to justice to match our rights to healthcare and education”, declaring a “battle to reverse Legal Aid cuts”.

Social Mobility in the Legal Sector

The event on 20^th April will also focus on the plight of aspiring Legal Aid lawyers. The Black Solicitors Network (BSN) regularly issue Diversity League Table reports, assessing the barriers in the legal profession. Their latest report shows that, despite some positive change “there is still a long way to go” and “social mobility is also disappointing”. Joe Mensah-Dankwah will introduce BSN’s work on equality of access, retention and promotion of black solicitors, as well as speaking about his own experience as a senior criminal solicitor at Foresters Solicitors. Siobhan Taylor-Ward will introduce Young Legal Aid Lawyers (YLAL)’s Social Mobility Report, published in March 2018. The report shows that debt, low salaries and the need for unpaid work experience are preventing many young lawyers from practicing in Legal Aid. One respondent to YLAL’s survey said “If I’m lucky I could be a qualified solicitor in the Legal Aid sector by the time I’m 30… Meanwhile my peers will be qualifying in 2017, at the age of 25 with a qualifying salary that is probably double what I will ever earn”.

Hope for the future

The Greater Manchester Law Centre came out of protests against Legal Aid cuts and closures of legal advice centres. In 2015, a group of Legal Aid Lawyers, trade unionists and community advice organisations declared the aim of starting a community law centre for Greater Manchester, to provide access to free legal advice and representation and to campaign for access to justice. They opened in 2016 and have since won back over £500,000.00 in benefits for disabled claimants. The event on 20^th April forms part of their campaign for restoration of Legal Aid nationally. They say “we do not want to be an isolated organisation, competing with others for the crumbs of statutory sector funding, we want to work with others to campaign for more for all of us”.

Tickets are available in advance here: https://gmlc-legal-aid-future.eventbrite.co.uk

Book your tickets here

The Greater Manchester Law Centre provides free, face to face and independent legal advice and representation for the people of Greater Manchester, as well as being a campaign for justice and properly funded legal aid.