The Commission of Inquiry into Legal Aid was organised jointly by the Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers and Young Legal Aid Lawyers (YLAL).The report prepared by the Commission was launced in the House of Lords today.  The three members of the Commission are:

• Dr Evan Harris
• Diana Holland
• The Reverend Professor Nicholas Sagovsky

Having considered the evidence they made 7 findings:

1. legal aid is vital to protecting the rights of vulnerable people
2. legal aid is vital to upholding the rule of law
3. legal aid is essential to holding the state to account
4. cutting legal aid is a false economy
5. a holistic approach is needed in providing legal aid
6. cuts to legal aid will drive out committed lawyers
7. cutting legal aid is not a fair or effective way to reduce unnecessary litigation.

For more information see: Unequal before the law?  The future of legal aid.Edited by Jon RobinsPublished by Solicitors Journal as part of the Justice Gap series14th June 2011