Top lawyer speaks out on free legal aid

A top lawyer has described why legal advice is important and must remain in place in the UK.

Helen Grant told the Guardian that those with limited means can seek justice using free legal advice, making it a "defining feature of our democracy".

Ms Grant said that UK residents are offered vital protection by free legal help.

"We must wear kid gloves when handling this delicate aspect of the public pot if we are to protect legal aid's raison d'etre," she added.

According to Ms Grant, when working in partnership with not-for-profit organisations, law centres and Citizens Advice bureaux, she became aware that existing funding would make it difficult to cope with the amount of cases, meaning that a reduction in cash directed towards this area would exacerbate the problem.

In addition, the news source revealed that women would be affected the most if free legal advice suffered from cutbacks.

Published by Phil Hammond