Public’s access to justice has become more restrictive

Over the last decade there has been a marked restriction on access to justice, as the Legal Aid budget has been harried almost to extinction in large areas of the law and for large members of the population.

Additionally, access to local justice is becoming more and more restricted.

It seems wrong that taxpayers who live in a market town that has housed a county court, and possibly a magistrates court, for many decades find themselves having to go before or be brought before a court some distance away.

What law would you like to see changed?

I believe that the law would benefit from a greater degree of guidance on the question of assisted suicide to help families, relatives, health care professionals and lawyers.

At the moment, there seems to be a consideration on almost a case by case basis. It cannot be beyond the ability of the medical and legal profession working in conjunction (with Parliament if necessary) to put us in the position of countries such as Switzerland where such issues trouble individual consciences rather than the courts.

What is the most exciting work you’ve ever done?

Of particular interest was the Hatton v Sutherland case some years ago which was the Court of Appeals then conclusive ruling on the “stress at work” cases that were burgeoning in the courts.

Who in the legal world do you most admire?

I have the greatest admiration for Clive Stafford Smith, who has worked on death row for 30 years.

He has toiled ceaselessly over the years.

What advice would you give to someone starting out in the profession?

There are technical developments in areas such as chemical analysis, and the patenting of designer elements, which makes intellectual property a particularly interesting course to pursue.