Legal Services Commission decision 'unlawful' in Eastbourne

The decision of the Legal Services Commission (LSC) to reduce legal aid provision in Eastbourne to two firms has been quashed by the High Court.

Currently provided by nine outfits in the seaside town, the changes were to come into force from mid-October, in line with cost-cutting measures being enforced across the country, the Rye and Battle Observer reports.

John Stebbing, head of the family department of a local legal services provider, commented: "I was pleased to read the Law Society's action against the LSC led to a judgment by the High Court which indicates its tendering contractual process was illegal."

Opponents of the measures argued cases with more than two parties would be jeopardised if only two legal aid providers were available in the area, while Mr Stebbing echoed this, claiming: "Divorce and child custody cases are a challenge at the best of times."

Last week the Law Society took the case to court, arguing legal services were under threat from the changes, which saw a little more than half of current practitioners approved to receive ongoing funding from the Ministry of Justice.