From April, a growing number of advice centres such as CABx and Law Centres will no longer be able to provide support for clients who need specialist legal advice to enforce their rights. At a time of increased demand, many areas of law will be removed from the scope of legal aid, meaning vulnerable people will be left to struggle with complex legal problems alone.
Legal Aid allows access to justice for people on some means tested benefits (for example JSA(IB), ESA(IR), Income Support and Pension Credit) or on a low income. From April 2013, £350m(40%) of cuts to the civil legal aid budget will take place. It will no longer be available in most cases involving welfare benefits, debt, immigration, housing and employment.
Critics argue the changes will hurt the most vulnerable, undermine the rule of law, prove to be a false economy and are poorly timed.