Is Legal Services Commission playing "judge and jury"?

Funding choices made by the Legal Services Commission may place too much power in the organisation's hands, according to one expert.

Sir Menzies Campbell MP has accused the body of acting as "judge and Jury", the Guardian reports, with heavy cuts to free legal help among the issues coming under scrutiny.

A Legal Services Commission decision to withdraw funding from a group case where 100 families sought compensation for medical negligence in relation to an anti-epileptic drug is being held up as a primary example.

So far, £3.25 million has been spent on free legal help for the claimants, who maintain the medication was responsible for a range of serious birth defects.

Such a decision makes it significantly less likely the case - which has so far lasted six years and was only weeks away from the court hearing - will be pursued.

Former leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Campbell said the Legal Services Commission had "usurped" the chance of the high court to make a decision in the landmark enquiry.

Published by Rose Orlik