Legal Aid Celebrates 60Years
Legal Aid celebrates 60 years
Legal Aid was created 60 years ago and since then millions of people have benefitted from vital legal services. The work it is doing is being celebrated nationwide.
The aim of the Act was to help people living in England and Wales to get a fair hearing. It was intended to resolve disputes and to protect basic human rights.
60 years on and legal aid has changed a lot. It helps something like 2 million people each year to resolve their legal problems. The legal aid system is run by the Legal Services Commission and it covers criminal and non criminal matters. It provides advice and representation.
Around one in four people experience legal problems each year and the numbers are even greater for people with disability or health problems. Around one in three people who are long term sick or disabled have legal problems. Legal aid means that many of these people can obtain advice and when necessary access the Court process.
(Photograph shows Graeme Swain, Partner at Swain and Co with the Legal Services banner celebrating 60 years of legal aid)
Adrian Syms of Swain & Co solicitors said, “Legal aid provides a vital safeguard to people’s rights. It is subject to a “sufficient benefits” test and this means that only worthwhile cases are investigated or pursued.
Swain & Co solicitors are the largest provider of legal aid services in this region and offer specialist advice in relation to clinical negligence, personal injury, family, housing, community care, mental health, education, crime, prison, education and benefits.
Swain & Co are proud to have developed a comprehensive legal aid service which is recognised by the Legal Services Commission as providing a “one stop service”. This recognises the fact that legal problems are often linked. For example people with problems relating to medical treatment often have associated problems with benefits and employment issues. People with family problems very often have problems with housing and debt. For this reason we sought to develop specialist expertise in related areas.
Over recent years we have dealt with a large number of very significant or landmark cases which have made a huge difference to the lives of people who could not possibly have taken action without legal aid.“
The time line (below) shows how long legal has now been in place and over that time it has helped millions of people.
The theory behind legal aid and access to justice goes right back to 1215 and the Magna Carta. This stated, “to no-one will we sell, to no-one deny or delay right or justice”. Not much of the Magna Carta remains relevant but this principle is crucial to our legal system.
In fact the Magna Carta was less about the rights of individuals and more about the barons of the time sorting out the King to rein in his powers. The indirect result was to provide the principle of justice for all.
Legal Aid Facts
In any given year legal problems effect: 1 in every 4 people 1 in 3 long term sick or disabled people 1 in 2 unemployed people 1 in 2 lone parents Of those people held in Police Stations: Only about half of those held are charged. No further action is taken in 1 in 5 cases. In a typical year legal aid benefits around 250,000 people involved in family disputes 90,000 people struggling with debt 125,000 people with housing problems 18,000 people suffering from domestic abuse 90,000 people with benefits issues |
Legal Aid timeline
1215 The Magna Carta 1903 The Poor Prisoner Defence Act introduced the beginnings of criminal legal aid. 1922 First female solicitor. 1942 Divorce had risen sharply and the Law Society employed solicitors to deal with divorce cases. 1944 Just days before the D day landings a committee was formed which ultimately was responsible for the creation of the Legal Advice Aid and Advice Act 1949. 1948 Proposals were published for new legal aid and advice service. This was to be for people “financially unable to prosecute a just and reasonable claim or defend a legal right” 1949 Legal Aid came into being |
Timeline since 1949 and Legal Aid
1949 Legal aid was formed
1966 World cup win
1969 Man landed on the moon
1976 Southampton win FA cup
1977 Silver Jubilee
1981 Charles & Diana’s wedding
1982 Start of Falklands War
1989 World wide web invented
1994 Channel tunnel opens
1996 Dolly the sheep was cloned
1997 Diana Princess of Wales died.
Legal Aid is changing rapidly. There are consultations in relation to major areas of law being undertaken. The aim is to contain the legal aid budget and to ensure value for money for the tax payer.
Adrian Syms of Swain & Co said, “I have dealt with legal aid over many years and recently a number of the changes have been highly beneficial to people needing legal aid. Solicitors have become more specialised and more and better training is provided. The Legal Services Commission has also done its part to promote legal aid work including through sponsoring trainee solicitors. For about the last six years the Legal Services Commission has paid for a significant amount of the training for a number of legal aid lawyers. The money has gone to firms who specialise in legal aid work and it funds legal aid lawyers who commit to doing legal aid work when they qualify as solicitors.”
Rhys Evans who is a trainee solicitor with Swain & Co and who benefited from the sponsorship scheme said, “The Legal Services Commission paid for me to do my professional exams and I feel privileged to be doing legal aid work for a dedicated law firm.”
Legal aid has been available to deal with some of the key issues which have arisen over the last 60 years. For example, legal aid was available to establish the innocence of the Guildford Four. Without legal aid any number of people would be denied justice.
The Legal Services Commission is celebrating legal aid with a travelling road show which sets out to make people aware of the availability of legal aid.
Antony Evans, Relationship Manager for the Legal Services Commission said, “Legal aid provides people who can least afford it with access to justice and helps around 2 million people in England and Wales each year. I am delighted that Swain & Co have taken part in the celebrations to mark the 60th Anniversary of Legal Aid. Swain & Co are a committed team of Legal Aid lawyers. They are experts in a very wide range of legal services and provide a quality and dedicated service. “
Swain & Co celebrated 60 years of legal aid with a 60’s party
(Photograph shows Trainee Solicitor Jessica Connelly ,Practice Manager Helen Ash and guest)
The firm also held a sponsored run, walk and cycling event together with 60’s fun games including sack races and space hopper races. The event raised money for MIND, the mental health charity.
For further comment please contact Graeme Swain on 023 9248 3322 or by email graemeswain@swaincohavant.uk.com