HAMLYN - College of Social Sciences and International Studies ...

Justice and Access to Justice
again, how will the Community Legal Service be able to avoid
unacceptable differences in levels of service at the local level. 59
On the other hand, trying to even out provision by the transfer
of moneys from one area to another, or from one service to
another means, by definition, that need that is currently being
met would no longer be met. There is no way of squaring this
circle.
The Consultation Paper says that in order to achieve proper
referral between advisers and the most effective deployment of
resources in a particular area, "it will be very important for
formal working agreements or concordats to be drawn up
among all the various bodies involved in each area. These will
set out standing arrangements for their mutual co-operation in
the advice they give and the services they provide". 60 My
concern is that these "formal working agreements or concordats"
for referral may become rigid new demarcation lines that
work to the client's disadvantage. Having elaborate arrangements
designed to direct clients with legal problems to the
"right" adviser may actually be counter-productive.
At present there is a wide range of choice. Lawyers in private
practice and in law centres, CABs, consumer advice centres,
housing aid centres, neighbourhood centres, can all make a
contribution to sorting out people's legal problems. 61 The College
of Law has just announced that it plans to establish a
nationwide network of free legal advice clinics staffed by
students under the supervision of practitioners and teachers. 62 1
59 In its response to the Consultation Paper on the CLS the Legal Aid Board has
said, "It is entirely appropriate that the services available through the CLS
should vary between regions according to local needs, in fact it is difficult to
see how the services could be responsive to local needs and priorities if they
did not". But it followed this by saying that the CLS' services would be
provided "on a consistent basis reflecting local needs and priorities". (September
1999, p. 9, paras 2.26-2.27.)
60 op. cit, n. 52 above, at p. 15.
61 The Consultation Paper on the CLS stated,
"A significant number of lawyers and others working in independent
advice centres, Citizens' Advice Bureaux (CABx) and Law Centres, provide
this vital initial advice. This effort is on a scale without rival anywhere in
the world ... It involves nearly 6,000 professional staff and some 30,000
unpaid volunteers working in over 3,000 centres dealing with over 10
million enquiries each year. Total public funding ... is probably about
£250 million a year." (May 1999, pp. 1-2).
62 See Law Society's Gazette, October 27, 1999, p. 3.
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