TARGETING CIVIL LEGAL NEEDS: MATCHING SERVICES TO NEEDS

The cost of administering and funding legal aid in England and Wales is in excess of two billion pounds. A recent study of private law family cases highlights how the current scheme tends to focus narrowly on particular legal issues and creates incentives for litigation rather than informal negotiation. Survey findings of legal need help to highlight that people experience a wide range of problems and often fail to receive proper help and support. Innovations taking place in both the developing and developed world can help to illustrate how legal services can expand and develop to reach out to those most vulnerable in society. To target civil legal needs and to match services to needs, it is argued that the legal aid scheme needs to broaden out and effectively link in with other forms of advice and support in order to provide joined up solutions to legal problems.