Maria Dew QC’s efforts to reinvigorate the attractions – if that is the word – of legal aid is designed to help reverse the dramatic decline of legal aid suppliers, driven by remuneration and compliance problems.
[adrotate banner=”91″]
Writing in the Law Society’s weekly bulletin, Ms Dew referred to the death of her own civil legal aid practice in 2002 when she resigned due to frustration over the administrative requirements and limitations placed upon clients.
Legal aid providers have fallen by 54 per cent in the five years between 2011 and 2016 with no sign of any pickup in supplier interest.
She records:
2017: 147 active providers in New Zealand.
2018: 123 active providers in New Zealand.
(This data from Dr Bridgette Toy-Cronin of the University of Otago Legal Issues Centre has been provided based on Official Information requests made to the Ministry of Justice. The definition of “active” providers is based on providers who had been appointed to two or more civil legal aid cases per annum).
These are alarming statistics and they expose that the bulk of civil litigators, in firms and in sole practice, are no longer making any contribution to legal aid work or the access to justice which legal aid work allows.
Maria Dew QC
The ‘sobering data’ has prompted her to re-join the programme as civil legal aid providers along with other barrister, she says.
She is hoping that 2020 will provide a rebirth of the programme to reverse the seemingly irreversible decline in legal aid supplier numbers.
As the Government works to improve access to justice – the catchcry for so many Justice-related appointments and issues including the recent slew of District Court appointments, reversing the decline in legal aid suppliers is undoubtedly one of the key cornerstones of any such policy.
Whether Ms Dew’s exhortations and efforts will do so remains to be seen.
Coming Soon – The LawFuel List of the ‘Stayers’ in Legal Aid – And What They Receive
Recent LawFuel News
- Kim Dotcom’s In-House Lawyer – His Wife & Their New Baby>> Your Next Law Job Could Be Right Here Fighting the US government …
Kim Dotcom’s In-House Lawyer – His Wife & Their New Baby Read More »
- Why We Must Celebrate Justice Kos’s Rise . . But Shed A Small Tear of Regret TooJohn Bowie* It is always heartwarming in a cosy-by-the-fire sort of way when …
Why We Must Celebrate Justice Kos’s Rise . . But Shed A Small Tear of Regret Too Read More »
- The Legal Ladies Adding A Fresh, Gender-Balanced Addition To “Footie”Gender diversity has reached the higher echelons of New Zealand Rugby (we can …
The Legal Ladies Adding A Fresh, Gender-Balanced Addition To “Footie” Read More »
- Who IS Jacque Lethbridge?The NZ Law Society President has an interesting career history spanning criminal defence …
- NZ Law – Senior Partner Leaves Meredith Connell For Bankside>> Latest Law Jobs on NZ’s Best Law Jobs Network Former Meredith Connell …
NZ Law – Senior Partner Leaves Meredith Connell For Bankside Read More »
- NZ Law – Litigation Firm Grows With New Appointment>> Latest Law Jobs on NZ’s Best Law Job Network Litigation law firm …
NZ Law – Litigation Firm Grows With New Appointment Read More »
- New Plymouth Law Firm Continues Proud Tradition For Judicial Appointments>> Latest Law Jobs Here New Plymouth lawyers Govett Quilliam continue their tradition …
New Plymouth Law Firm Continues Proud Tradition For Judicial Appointments Read More »
- “Epati Out” Says Retiring NZ Law Society ChiefNew Zealand Law Society President has signed off from her role heading the …
- New Partners At Tompkins Wake>> Latest Law Jobs on the LawFuel Network – In-House, Government, Private Firms …
- The Rise of the In-House Lawyer in New ZealandThe number of in-house lawyers in New Zealand continues its steady rise, moving …
- Buddle Findlay Signals Stronger Gender Diversity With New Appointment to Board>> See New Buddle Findlay Job on LawFuel Jobs Network Here Amy Ryburn …
Buddle Findlay Signals Stronger Gender Diversity With New Appointment to Board Read More »
- Why legitimate criticism of the ‘mainstream’ media is in danger of being hijacked by anti-vax and ‘freedom’ movementsSean Phelan* One striking feature of the “freedom convoy” protests in Ottawa, Wellington …
[adrotate banner=”91″]
