States Criticised Over Legal Aid Delays

The Jersey Law Society is questioning whether the States takes legal aid seriously.

Its written a letter to the Chief Minister, criticising the delay in bringing forward a new system.

Advocate John Kelleher says the current scheme is broken, unsustainable and not fit for purpose.

"While the legal profession remains committed to maintaining the 'safety net' of legal representation for the most vulnerable members of our community who might otherwise be deprived of access to justice, it is important to recognise that responsibility for such provision rests with Government and not the legal profession".

"The threat to legal aid is real - but is the government and not the legal profession that is responsible, and it is the government that can do something about it, if it cares about access to justice and the interests of the people of the island it serves."

Negotiations over a new legal aid system have been ongoing for five years.

A draft law was put forward in February, but withdrawn in July.

Law Society CEO Neville Benbow is calling on the government to do something about it now.

"We seem to be making one step forwards and two steps backwards. It really is time to move things forward.

"We've got a new government that is trying to play around the edges with legal aid, which is not what we want.

"We don't think the government is really putting its money where its mouth is. It needs to think about what is important for this island.

"The legal profession has, as a matter of goodwill, undertaken legal aid for so many years. Now is the time for change."