My last
blog touched upon the culture of blaming claimants and, particularly their
lawyers, for pretty well everything. Politicians, government bodies, the media
and insurers just love to dish it out in huge helpings.
One thing
that hardly ever features in the news is the huge amount of free work done by
lawyers in order to maintain some access to justice for ordinary people.
According
to the Law Society Gazette, firms provide free or Pro bono work worth an
average of about 3% of turnover of all firms - £601m. This is largely done by smaller
firms or sole practitioners but large commercial firms also play their part.
Indeed, we
are the start of National Pro bono week –
This sort
of work can range from attending advice clinics in CABx or Law Centres to conducting
heavy litigation at no cost to the client. These statistics will not include the
hours of unrecorded free work by way of telephone advice etc. I have mentioned
previously that up to 60% of lawyers have provided free advice at some time –
This barely
merits a mention in mainstream media. Lawyers and Judges have also been seen walking through our major cities raising funds for agencies providing free legal assistance to support the stalwart work of North West Legal Support Trust and London Legal Support Trust.
The Legal
Profession is doing as much as it can to plug the gaping hole in Access to
Justice, caused by recent cuts to Legal Aid. But it cannot and should not be
seen as the answer. There is a danger that politicians will see what the
lawyers are doing for nothing and see that as a ‘job well done’. Why should the
state fund Access to Justice if lawyers are doing it anyway? This is a real
dilemma. If we do nothing people are left unrepresented. If we do something
then the cuts will not be reversed.
Free work
by lawyers can only do so much. It can never come close to replacing a properly
funded legal aid scheme. It is no exaggeration to say that the advice sector is
now a waste land. Agencies are closing by the day. Others are having to turn
away all but the most urgent of cases.
Why should
ordinary people with a genuine case have to find a lawyer who will do it for
free? In what other profession would that sort of expectation exist? It is very
disheartening that none of the major political parties have shown the slightest
interest in reversing these cuts.
The
profession will do what it can. But this can only scratch the surface.
It is time
that the mainstream media and politicians took responsibility for an issue where
there is desperate need even if there are few votes…
http://jakemaverick.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeletenobody can or will help me though
I have NEVER come across a single solicitor or barrister willing to work on any criminal or civil matter for free so no idea where you get the idea that so many of the profession will work for free because they simply don't appear to do so.
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ReplyDelete