This afternoon in Parliament, Daniel Zeichner, MP for Cambridge, has called for better provision of legal aid in family courts, citing his experiences with Anglia Ruskin University’s Law Clinic who provide services to support vulnerable court users, and the need for better state provision. He comments that “Spending on legal aid has shrunk by more than £1bn in five years. By 2019-20 the Ministry of Justice will have seen cuts to its overall budget of 40% – among the deepest of any government department. This leaves vulnerable court users seeking justice with nowhere to turn, often against David-and-Goliath style legal battles with richer parties.“

Mr Zeichner said: “I was pleased recently to join students and staff at Anglia Ruskin University’s Law Clinic to celebrate the first year of their Support@Court service helping people navigate the family courts. It is a great initiative, but Sarah Calder the Director tells me that provision is patchy and litigants in person all too often feel intimidated by facing a lawyer on the other side. So will the Government back the Bach Commission’s call to bring legal aid back into scope for all matters concerning children?“

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