| About Us |
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Young Legal Aid Lawyers are a group of lawyers who are committed to practising in those areas of law, both criminal and civil, that have traditionally been publicly funded. The group includes those who are still studying and training as well as recently qualified barristers and solicitors. We share in common a strong belief in the importance of good quality representation and advice at all levels to those who could otherwise not afford it. We have chosen to commit ourselves to legally aided work despite the current lack of financial sponsorship or reward, because we want to provide a good quality public service within a justice system that does not favour the wealthy. We believe that without access to justice, there can be no justice at all. We also hope that Young Legal Aid Lawyers will be a voice through which the government will be able to discern the views and concerns of the next generation of the profession. The Legal Services Commission's concern that fewer and fewer young people are motivated to undertake legal aid work is justified - not only by virtue of the lack of financial incentive, but also and perhaps more importantly, because those of us that do undertake it find that the constant cuts and restrictions on the work we can do mean that we are forced to either work for nothing or provide a poor quality service to our clients. But we are here because we are not giving up and turning to more profitable private sectors. Rather, we aim to voice our concerns and fight for decent access to justice so that we can provide a good quality service to all clients, irrespective of their means. Young Legal Aid Lawyers are aware that there are other well established groups that have campaigned for access to justice for many years: we do not aim to reinvent the wheel. Rather, we want to support current campaigns by adding our voice. |