Islington Tribune
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Islington Tribune - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published: 6 April 2007
 
Legal aid will soon go way of NHS dentistry

YOUR campaigning newspaper was kind enough to report on the demonstration by lawyers outside Parliament against legal aid changes, which threaten the viability of publicly funded access to justice (Greg in legal aid cut battle, March 23).
Martin Seel, the London director of the Legal Services Commission (LSC), was invited by me to attend that rally, or the picket outside Highbury court.
He did not attend, or even reply, but he did use your letters page to try to rebut the assertion that there will be cuts in real terms (Legal aid budget safeguarded, March 30).
This is the line peddled by his political paymaster, Vera Baird, the legal aid minister, but as a public servant I am surprised Mr Seel does not strive for a more impartial approach.
The reality is that, like NHS dentists, legal aid lawyers will soon be a thing of the past.
The government’s proposed reforms will lead to the collapse of most small, independent legal aid practices, and this could start in inner-city London boroughs such as ours where rates are low but overheads high.
The dangers are realised even in the Legal Services Commission’s own research, in the Otterburn report, which it tried to suppress but belatedly appears on its website.
GREG FOXSMITH
Solicitor, Shearman Bowen and Co, EC1

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, Islington Tribune, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@islingtontribune.co.uk. Deadline for letters is midday Wednesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld. Please include a full name, postal address and telephone number. Letters may be edited for reasons of space.
 
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