Mother speaks out after free legal help cut

A mother who was forced to halt a compensation bid after her free legal help was cancelled has backed a campaign to help others who seek the use of free legal advice services.

Karen Burk, of Stanmore, was fighting for her daughter, who has water on the brain and spina bifida, the Harrow Observer reported.

Ms Burk was fighting a court battle with 140 other families to show a relationship between their children's medical issues and epilepsy medication consumed during pregnancy.

However, the Legal Services Commission withdrew the group's legal aid prior to a High Court trial.

Ms Burk is now supporting Sound Off For Justice, a Law Society Campaign that wants the government to reconsider planned legal aid cuts. The initiative is also supported by a number of organisations, including Shelter, Rights of Women and The Children's Legal Centre.

She said: "It's very frustrating for all people who are told they cannot get legal aid. It shouldn't be withdrawn from anybody – it's there because we need to use it and it's our right to use it."

Published by Hannah Carr