Bar Council's response to Legal Aid announcement

Commenting on the changes announced to criminal legal aid, Mark Fenhalls QC, chair of the Bar Council, said:

“I welcome the Government’s promise to inject urgently needed money into the legal aid system and the acceptance of the key findings of the Independent Review. We will work with the Ministry of Justice to make sure the funds are delivered swiftly, effectively, and fairly. 

“The challenges faced by the criminal justice system result from decades of underinvestment and will take years to repair but this announcement will help start to rebuild a criminal justice system that the public wants and deserves.

“The Bar Council supports the Government’s commitment to provide legal representation to all children, the raising of the means test thresholds, and the offer of free representation to parents in child life-support cases and to families at some inquests. These proposals will help the most vulnerable have access to justice.”