ACCESS TO JUSTICE: IS IT UNDER THREAT Mark Stobbs March 2015 Director of Legal Policy The Law Society

Access to Justice means must be provided for resolving, without prohibitive cost or inordinate delay, bona fide disputes which the parties are unable themselves to resolve Lord Bingham

Causes of Reductions:1 Civil legal aid Acts of Assistance 2012 - 2013: 925,000 Acts of Assistance 2013 2014: 497,000 Exceptional Funding Cases: 151 85% fall in debt advice; Only 39% of victims meet the domestic violence evidence criteria Advice deserts 14 Local Authorities had no civil legal aid advice.

Causes of Reductions 2 Recoverability QOCS Referral Fees How are firms managing?

Causes of Reductions 3 Court Fees Employment Tribunal 81% down 600% increase for money claims

Firms under pressure Litigants in person significant increase McKenzie Friends paid and unpaid No access Reduced quality Effects

What now? More legal aid?

Other options Other sources of money? Technology? Other business models? What about quality?