21 March 2016
Legal Aid Payments Reflect Solicitors’ Commitment To Access To Justice
The Law Society of Northern Ireland has said that it welcomes the publication of all information regarding expenditure from public funds.
The Society was responding to publication by the Legal Services Agency Northern Ireland (LSANI) of payments to solicitors’ firms for publicly funded legal services in 2014/15.
The President of the Law Society of Northern Ireland, Mr John Guerin said:
“We welcome the publication by the Legal Services Agency Northern Ireland of the payments to solicitor firms for publicly funded legal services in 2014/15. What is clearly evident is the demand for access to justice supported by legal aid in Northern Ireland.
The Legal Services Agency Northern Ireland (LSANI) has today published the list of payments to 100 firms. It is important to recognise that there are almost 500 solicitor firms committed to providing legal aid services to those most vulnerable and disadvantaged members of the public at a time when their lives require support, advice and representation.
They include the victims of domestic violence, children who may be taken into care, those facing criminal charges and those with mental health issues.
Delivering access to justice for all is a fundamental obligation for government in a civilised and democratic society.”
Information published by the Legal Services Agency Northern Ireland (LSANI) of payments to solicitors’ firms for publicly funded legal services in 2014/15 is available from
https://www.dojni.gov.uk/publications/payments-practitioners-2014-2015