Fears for poor as family justice 'faces meltdown'

A LEADING Yorkshire solicitor has warned the region's family justice system is "facing meltdown" because of legal aid cuts.

Grahame Stowe, senior partner at Grahame Stowe Bateson, said of the 31 firms taking on legal aid family cases in Leeds, 23 have been told by the Legal Services Commission their contracts will end in October.

Family lawyers often represent victims of domestic violence or abused children. They also represent parents accused of abuse who face losing their children.

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Mr Stowe says the decision to leave a city the size of Leeds with just eight firms offering family law legal aid will hit the poorest.

His firm's five Leeds offices are among those affected, although his one office in Harrogate will have its contract renewed.

"These cuts to legal aid services defy all reason and are nothing less than savage. Our family courts are already overloaded, with child care cases taking on average, more than 44 weeks to be decided.

"Our fear is that areas of Yorkshire will no longer be served by legal aid family lawyers, which will limit access to justice, delay sensitive cases yet further and the leave the region's family justice system facing meltdown."

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The firm's Leeds offices have been awarded a new legal aid child care contract, but the Legal Services Commission has said it must now choose between family law work in Harrogate or public law child care work in Leeds – a decision Mr Stowe describes as "nonsensical."