The barristers, you may have seen, went on strike yesterday to protest over recession-era cuts to legal aid fees that have not been reversed. On the face of it, public sympathy for under-paid legal-eagles is not likely to be very high, but the specific nature of their complaint – as it relates to legal aid – should be taken seriously.
It is a basic tenet of a liberal democracy that every citizen accused by the state of a crime should have the chance and the opportunity to defend themselves fairly and fully before the courts. It should be noted that when you are accused of a crime – whether you are guilty or innocent – the very fact of the accusation amounts to a punishment. If you do not qualify for legal aid then you will have to pay thousands in legal fees to clear your name. And if you do qualify for legal aid, then it’s a “take what you are given” situation where you may end up with a legal team under-resourced compared to the state prosecutors trying to put you in jail.
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