CYP Now - Letters: Legal aid is available

I was surprised to read the comments made by Caroline Little (Children Now, 9-15 May) which do not reflect the reality of family legal aid provision in London and the South East. I can reassure your readers that there is ample provision throughout London - including Walthamstow and the west London boroughs - and in Brighton.

Her suggestion that law firms doing legal aid are closing almost everyday is inaccurate and misleading.

I am aware of only one family legal aid firm in Walthamstow closingrecently and that was not connected with any action taken by the LegalServices Commission.

The reality is that more than 90 per cent of the solicitors in Londonhave recently re-affirmed their commitment to family and civil legal aidwork by signing new contracts with the Legal Services Commission.

In the very rare instances where a firm closes or withdraws from legalaid we seek other providers to take on this work and so ensure that helpcontinues to be available.

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