The AJA is supported by community groups, national charities, lawyers, advisers and others who feel strongly that justice should remain accessible to all. We believe that the funding crisis facing legal aid cannot be ignored any longer.

The incoming government must restate a commitment to legal aid - and provide adequate funding to protect fundamental rights and ensure equality before the law. Access to justice is not a reality unless people can find out about their rights and enforce them - through the courts if necessary. We believe that the following action must be taken by the new government as a matter of urgency:

• Scrap plans to cut eligibility for civil legal aid and to restrict funding for certain types of case
• Make sure that the whole legal aid scheme is properly resourced so that both civil and criminal work can operate within a realistic budget
• Protect the civil legal aid budget so that it cannot be used to cover rising expenditure on criminal legal aid
• Ensure that local authorities contribute properly to the appropriate funding of independent advice services in their area
• Recognise the effect of policies in other parts of government on legal aid spending – and make sure that the legal aid budget is compensated
• Provide co-ordinated funding for legal education, law reform and other non-casework services
  

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