‘Justice is open to all’: British study finds poorest denied legal aid

The research shows that people on incomes already 10 per cent to 30 per cent below the minimum income standard are being excluded from legal aid, meaning that poverty hit families are being denied vital help to fight eviction, tackle severe housing disrepair and address other life-changing legal issues.

As a result, the Law Society is calling on the UK government to restore the means test to its 2010 real-terms level, and to conduct a review to consider what further changes are required to address the problems exposed by the report.

Law Society president, Joe Egan, said: “No one in modern society should have to choose between accessing the justice system and a minimum living standard. The financial eligibility test for civil legal aid is disqualifying people from receiving badly needed legal advice and representation even though they are already below the poverty line.”

Campbell Robb, chief executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, added: “It is simply unacceptable that millions of people are unable to access legal support because they live on a low income. We must loosen these constraints so people are protected from harm when things go wrong and can build a better life.”