Lawyers speak out on free legal services

Two lawyers based in East London have voiced their opposition to the government's cuts to free legal services.

Jenny Beck, co-chair of the Legal Aid Practitioners Group and a managing partner at a law firm, spoke to the Hackney Citizen, saying that residents of the area could potentially be devastated by the government's proposed cuts.

She said: "The government’s current proposals effectively remove entire areas of legal aid from scope."

In addition, another solicitor, Bill Parry-Davies, voiced his opinion on cuts to free legal advice.

He said that funding cuts will result in many people being unable to fight abuses of power committed by landlords, agencies of the state, government and employers.

Mr Parry-Davies said that the cuts would result in powerful members of society feeling that they do not have to act lawfully as they will not have to account for their actions.

One organisation that is campaigning against the cuts is Sound Off For Justice, which has to date attracted 10,296 signatures on a petition against the move.

Published by Hannah Carr