There have been many discussions within the British legal industry recently about the changes in the legal assistance that are now in effect. As part of its strategy to reduce costs, the government aims to significantly reduce the amount spent on legal aid Victoria each year. It aims to reduce the last digit of the order of £ 2.2 billion per year from 350 million pounds .
The stated purpose of government is to protect legal aid Victoria to those who really need it , ensuring it is preserved elsewhere. They then proceeded to reform the legal aid Victoria , sentencing and punishment of offenders ( LASPO ) .
legal aid Victoria!
There will be a number of areas of the law that will be most affected , namely , family law , employment law, clinical negligence and immigration law . For those going through divorce or separation are no longer able to claim legal aid Victoria in most cases. This includes children who have a separation effect , which has been widely criticized . Those who take legal action against a former employer , for example claiming unfair dismissal also affect them . An area of the law concerning when considering waste often neglect and these changes will make it more difficult for many to gain compensation in cases of clinical negligence . Another area in which there will be an impact, is immigration , where a person is not detained .There will be areas where legal aid Victoria is available in family law and immigration law . Some involved in family law cases where domestic violence can be demonstrated, there has been an abduction or forced to marry someone was still entitled to legal aid Victoria . Also always be available in case of asylum.
There are fears among many in the legal sector that these reductions could have a major negative impact on certain areas of the law. According to The Guardian, research has suggested that 25 percent of lawyers and advisers fear ripple effect of losing their jobs . Another concern is that many can not afford good legal advice and taking the law into their own hands, as a result, more people will try to represent .
There is consensus that the vulnerable will suffer, some argue that this is an attack on the poor. While the richest members of society will always be able to ensure legal representation , some not, and it could mean that those who do not have the funds not be able to carry out legal action justifiable in certain circumstances. For example , those who are affected by medical malpractice may not be able to start a process of compensation that may be entirely correct. He was clearly wasted in this sector , and it is true that you look , but the danger is that this will lead to people not getting the compensation they deserve . These changes could lead to people staying in an unhappy marriage and other children in poor households , divorce becomes unreachable for some. There are suggestions that there will be cases in which a party to a separation be able to provide legal representation and the other may not, which means the rich part is likely to get a divorce in a better position.
It is certainly possible to reduce costs in the legal sector , but ends legal aid Victoria in certain legal areas really the best way to save money ? When looking to save on costs, it is difficult to get the balance right. The reality is that you can save money on legal aid Victoria and there are circumstances in which legal aid Victoria is not necessary. Rather than targeting whole sections of the legislation , however , would not it be wise for you to reduce the number of people who have the right or the number of people who are eligible ? For example , the threshold for those who can receive financial aid could be changed. It is important to support those in need without using taxpayer money unnecessarily. If the government tries to preserve legal aid Victoria for those who really need it , why they completely availability outside certain areas?