Legal aid reforms that will slash the number of law firms and end defendants’ right to choose a solicitor will have a “cataclysmic” effect on justice for London’s ethnic minorities, it was claimed today.
Groups representing black and Asian lawyers warned that the changes were unfair as they would remove the ability of many ethnic minority defendants to choose a solicitor from the same culture and background who understands their needs. This would lead to lower quality representation and miscarriages of justice, they claimed.
The lawyers also described the reforms as an “attack on London’s proud multicultural heritage” because of the number of ethnic minority solicitors who will be put out of business.
The warning, in a letter to the Standard from the Society of Black Lawyers, the Society of Asian Lawyers and four other bodies, follows the publication last month of Justice Secretary Chris Grayling’s plans to cut £220 million a year from the legal aid budget by 2019.
The number of law firms nationwide is expected to fall from more than 1,600 to about 400 under a new system of price competitive tendering.
Mr Grayling has said the reforms — which also include limiting the right of prisoners and migrants to receive legal aid — are necessary to restore public confidence in a system whose costs had “spiralled out of control”. But the lawyers’ letter said the “ill-considered” plans would lead to the closure of 90 per cent of firms run by ethnic minority solicitors.
It added: “These firms are essential to legitimise the rule of law among the many ethnic minority groups in the capital. The unique cultural and linguistic understanding these solicitors from diverse ethnic backgrounds offer these communities ensure the foundation of a civil society which is access to justice for all… We urge the Coalition to think again before introducing rash, cataclysmic and irreversible reforms, which will have a devastating effect on the rule of law in this country.”
The other signatories to the letter are the London Criminal Courts Solicitors Association, the Association of Muslim Lawyers, the British Nigeria Law Forum and the Black Solicitors Network.
A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said: "We are consulting with the legal profession to get their views on our proposals to transform legal aid, and we want to hear from them on all aspects, including client choice. Quality assured lawyers will still be available, just as they are now.”
