The UK’s Justice Secretary Michael Gove has asked more successful or prosperous barristers’ chambers and solicitor’s firms to contribute more to access to justice through pro bono and possibly a financial levy. The Conservative MP has stated that at present in the UK there is a “creaking” “two-nation” justice system offering a "gold standard" to the wealthiest in society and around the world but failing the most marginalised in society.
Gove’s intentions have caused great tension among many practicing lawyers in the UK. Many are pointing to the previous Government’s controversial decision to drastically cut the legal aid budget, a decision made by Gove’s fellow conservative MP and predecessor Chris Grayling. Some have openly expressed that some legal practitioners are finding their current number of hours of pro bono a week incredibly difficult to achieve since the £600million cut to legal aid support. The Shadow Chancellor and Shadow Secretary of State for Justice, Lord Falconer said, “people will be bemused by the sight of the Justice Secretary complaining of a two nation justice system. Since the Tories took office, access to justice has been all but dismantled for the poorest in our society".
Gove however, has expressed that there will be “no more cuts to legal aid” and by asking for successful legal professionals to contribute a little more, rather than taking more in tax from someone on the minimum wage, it will result in a fairer system. Currently some firms are members of the UK Collaborative Plan for Pro Bono which aims to dedicate 25 hours per lawyer per year to voluntary legal work. Gove has welcomed this, but said more needs to be done.
A survey by the Law Society of England & Wales found that 16 per cent of solicitors in commerce and industry provided an hour or more of pro bono work per week. Law Society president Andrew Caplen said, "the legal profession is committed to pro bono and nearly half of solicitors in private practice average more than 50 hours per year . . . but pro bono is never a substitute for a properly funded system of legal aid, which needs skilled and experienced solicitors to provide expert legal advice to those who need it."
Other reforms to the UK legal system include the closing of certain courts due to lack of use and reform to civil and criminal legal aid, however there are doubts as to where the later will lead to any restoration of public funding.
Click here to read more in The Guardian.
Click here to read a piece in the UK Law Gazette.