Family Law

David Emmerson, Edwards Duthie. The government has just published a consultation document headed A Fairer Deal for Legal Aid". The paper aims to reform legal aid so that it focuses more on people with the greatest need. There will be cuts in criminal legal aid provision and greater protection for the civil budget. What the paper also makes clear is that there is no more money. David Emmerson looks at the Family Help Pilot that has recently been announced by the Legal Services Commission (LSC). The terms of the pilot are set to introduce a whole range of initiatives that many family lawyers have been demanding for years. The pilot will operate in 7 areas and will include practitioners assessing eligibility and the old schemes being replaced by a single funding level of "family help". See November [2005] Fam Law 908 for the full article.

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