Family Law Members Survey |
1. Introduction
Purpose of this survey
The Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX) has created this short survey so that our members employed in law firms working on family cases can submit their views on the effects of recent legal aid cuts on the sector.
The Institute aims to identify the true scale of the emerging problem as a result of concerns that the family court system is on the brink of collapse due to legal aid cuts, plans for court closures and cuts to budgets for Family Services generally.
Reports are that hundreds of law firms specialising in family legal issues have failed to obtain a family legal aid contract in a recent tendering project. It is thought that the number of family law providers has dropped by about 46%, from 2,400 to around 1,300. The Legal Services Commission (LSC), which oversees the legal aid system, has admitted that the scale of the cuts was an unintended consequence of their new application processes, but has defended its decision by stating that there should be at least five providers in each procurement area.
ILEX is concerned that the scale of the unintentional reduction could potentially cause irreparable harm to legal aid provision to some of the most vulnerable members of society by creating family law advice ‘deserts’ in parts of the UK. ILEX would like to know whether these cuts have affected you and your firm.
ILEX is grateful to all members who provide complete this short survey for their contribution to this project.
The Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX) has created this short survey so that our members employed in law firms working on family cases can submit their views on the effects of recent legal aid cuts on the sector.
The Institute aims to identify the true scale of the emerging problem as a result of concerns that the family court system is on the brink of collapse due to legal aid cuts, plans for court closures and cuts to budgets for Family Services generally.
Reports are that hundreds of law firms specialising in family legal issues have failed to obtain a family legal aid contract in a recent tendering project. It is thought that the number of family law providers has dropped by about 46%, from 2,400 to around 1,300. The Legal Services Commission (LSC), which oversees the legal aid system, has admitted that the scale of the cuts was an unintended consequence of their new application processes, but has defended its decision by stating that there should be at least five providers in each procurement area.
ILEX is concerned that the scale of the unintentional reduction could potentially cause irreparable harm to legal aid provision to some of the most vulnerable members of society by creating family law advice ‘deserts’ in parts of the UK. ILEX would like to know whether these cuts have affected you and your firm.
ILEX is grateful to all members who provide complete this short survey for their contribution to this project.