Fresh Legal Aid Cuts To Affect Judicial Reviews

The Government is to restrict legal aid for judicial reviews to stop the law being “abused to generate publicity” and delay lawful decisions, it has announced. Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said major reforms were needed to the judicial review process but he insisted they would still be a vital method of ensuring the Government and public sector organisations follow the letter of the law. The final decision was made after a period of consultation and the changes will mean legal aid providers only receive payments that are granted by the courts or discretionary transactions carried out by the Legal Aid Agency in the name of the Justice Secretary himself. Under the new legislation legal aid will be provided at the initial preparatory stage before court proceedings and during a judicial review if granted, but no money will be available at the application stage. In a written statement Mr Grayling said the reforms would ensure legal aid is available when it is most needed but also boost the Government’s efforts to cut public costs, push for growth and improve the economy.

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