Reforms to legal services could 'hinder' access to justice

A personal injury specialist has spoken out to say that the government's proposed reforms to free legal services could see access to justice being hindered.

Simon Leyland, who works at a solicitors in Liverpool, said that the law could harm vulnerable members of society, the Liverpool Daily Post reported.

Mr Leyland pointed out that the authority's plan to abolish legal aid funding for clinical negligence claims, along with the Jackson Report – which aims to reform no-win, no-fee litigation– could end in fewer people having access to justice.

He said: "The reforms will impact on those with limited financial means the most, who have suffered genuine injuries through the negligence of others."

In addition, he pointed out that many who have experienced injuries in an accident have been able to access justice, even if they cannot afford it, as a result of no-win, no-fee arrangements after free legal advice for personal injury claims was removed a few years ago.

He said that the proposals would change this situation and could result in claimant's lawyers being forced to think about getting success fees from their clients, rather than the losing defendant.

Furthermore, Jenny Beck, co-chair of the Legal Aid Practitioners Group and a managing partner at a law firm, told the Hackney Citizen that the government's proposed cuts could harm residents of the London borough.

Published by Hannah Carr