Law Society to challenge Legal Services Commission decision

The decision by the Legal Services Commission to assign family law work to little more than half of firms currently practising is to be challenged by the Law Society.

Approximately 1,300 of the practices working in the field have won contracts to continue their activities, leaving around 1,100 out in the cold, reports the Guardian.

Legal services may be harder to access once the cuts come in to place as they will mostly affect vulnerable clients such as immigrants and those suffering domestic abuse, according to some law practitioners.

Law Society president Linda Lee argued: "A reduction in access to justice cannot be in the public interest", adding customers might have to travel long distances to find someone to take on their case.

Other industry representatives are also challenging the austerity measures, saying the changes will affect not just family law firms, but also county and magistrates' courts, which could put undue strain on community services.