Lawyer Monthly - August 2021 Edition

28 WWW.LAWYER-MONTHLY.COM | AUG 2021 HOW CAN PEOPLE IN THE UK GET BETTER ACCESS TO LEGAL SERVICES? In order for businesses and individuals to understand when it is appropriate to seek legal advice, they need to be asking themselves the following questions: - What is the source of my problem? Why did it happen, and whose actions have caused it? - What aremy legal rightsandresponsibilities in this situation? Has this problem caused my legal rights to be infringed, and have I done everything I can to resolve it? - What outcome or solution am I seeking for this problem? Which individual or organisation do I need to contact to bring about this outcome? - Do I have the supporting evidence and documentation I need to back up my version of events? - Is this a matter I can personally resolve effectively with everything I have to hand, or will I need a professional legal adviser or advocate to make the case for me? For those who lack legal confidence, efforts will need to be made to communicate how this process works as clearly as possible, as well as reducing any perceived barriers to accessing legal assistance when needed. How can people get easier access to legal support? There are already a large number of services and support measures offered by the legal industry to ensure that individuals and businesses in need are able to access free or affordable legal support and advice: - Legal aid: a government-funded scheme that helps to meet the costs of legal advice, family mediation and representation in a court or tribunal. This isaimedatpeopleinseriouscircumstances, such as those at risk of homelessness, domestic violence or a prison sentence, who cannot otherwise afford legal costs. - Citizens Advice: a free service providing broad guidance on legal issues ranging from benefits and welfare to debt, employment law, housing rules and immigration. - Law centres: offices that provide free legal advice from a solicitor or trained legal adviser, covering a range of social welfare law issues. - Trade union support: trade union members can obtain free legal advice through their union on a range of issues, not solely limited to employment law matters. By continuing to promote these efforts to broaden access to legal help, the industry will be able to ensure that every member of society is able to benefit equally from its good work. - Free legal clinics: many law firms provide free advice sessions and clinics, giving individuals a chance to discuss their case and receive guidance on whether it would be worth progressing their claim, with no obligation to any financial commitment. - No win, no fee arrangements: a large number of solicitors offer conditional fee arrangements as a way of paying for civil cases, meaning the consumer will only need to pay for the solicitor's fees and expenses if the case is won. All of these approaches are helping to make it easier for people across the UK to gain access to the legal support and guidance they require. However, the industry is committed to making further progress on this front, from the LSB’s campaign to promote legal expenses insurance more widely to consumers, to the Law Society’s efforts to reintroduce legal aid for early legal advice, particularly in family and housing law. The legal sector in the UK is respected internationally for the high quality and wide variety of its services and advice for individuals and businesses. By continuing to promote these efforts to broaden access to legal help, the industry will be able to ensure that every member of society is able to benefit equally from its good work.