The government is carrying out a review of civil Legal Aid which includes Family Mediators.
Family Mediators are covered by the Family Law category. Although 80 per cent of firms provide Legal Aid because it is ‘the right thing to do’, there are some worrying results:
- Half of firms say there is a higher demand than usual
- 60 per cent are dissatisfied with the civil legal aid sector
- 80 per cent are dissatisfied with the fee structure
- 60 per cent are dissatisfied with the way the Legal Aid Authority make decisions
- 65 per cent say that providing legal aid is not financially viable
- If there is no positive change 40% of respondents plan to leave or decrease their legal aid offering in the next year.
- If there is no positive change 80% of respondents plan to leave or decrease their legal aid offering in the next five years.