Vincents joins national Legal Aid protest

By Vincents Solicitors

11 Aug 2015

Lancashire’s Vincents Solicitors is to boycott Crown Court Legal Aid work as part of a national protest against government cuts.

The firm which has one of the county’s largest criminal practices, is backing the stance of other firms across the UK in aiming to highlight the chaos further cutbacks could cause.

Government investment in Legal Aid provision has seen the funding, which is provided to people who can not afford their own solicitor, cut twice in the last 15 months. The latest 8.75 per cent cut on July 1 takes reductions over the last 20 years to 27 per cent.

There are fears that people accused of a crime could be left without adequate representation, as smaller firms would no longer be able to afford to undertake Legal Aid work and larger firms may struggle to attract new entrants into criminal law. A shortage of Legal Aid lawyers could lead to the accused having to consider whether fighting a case was financially viable, rather than on the basis of whether they were innocent or had a winnable case.

Trevor Colebourne, Vincents’ head of criminal law, said the system is already on the verge of collapse and further cuts could take it over the edge. He said: “Everyone is entitled to legal representation, regardless of their ability to pay. This is a fundamental principle of British justice. And that representation should be provided by a qualified, experienced lawyer who has the skills and expertise to understand and work within the UK’s complex legal system.

“That ideal is sadly under threat as the Government makes and proposes further cuts to its Legal Aid funding, in fact the service is dangerously close to breaking down. Law firms who undertake Legal Aid work have to provide a 24/7 service yet the money to pay for that service continues to be reduced. The risk is that it becomes unviable for some firms to continue to take on such cases or they face going under.

“There’s also the impact upon recruitment, no one would be surprised if many junior lawyers chose to go into other more lucrative areas of practice. As the older lawyers retire and younger ones select other options, the pool of talent is diminished. The remaining practitioners are overworked and underpaid, and less skilled juniors will be drafted in to fill the gaps. And who wants the overworked, underpaid, less experienced lawyer representing their interests when their very liberty may be at stake?”

Law firms across the UK are taking action in a bid to encourage a rethink by the Ministry of Justice, which is set to impose another cut in January 2016, and prevent the creation of a “two-tier” system of justice where only those able to afford a lawyer can defend themselves.

Firms taking action will not represent clients in Legal Aid cases at Crown Court for the duration of the protest. Mr Colebourne added: “Vincents has decided to support this protest because everyone - especially the innocent, children and the vulnerable - is entitled to a fair trial and this usually means representation from a skilled lawyer. The criminal justice system must be organised and funded to make sure this happens. “We hope that our clients will understand why we are making this protest. This issue is so important for the future, for everyone who wants to live in a country where the rights of the individual to fair justice are treated with respect.”

Enjoyed this? Read more from Vincents Solicitors

Latest news

1

VARS Technology team up with debt resolution specialists to fight fuel theft David Nichol John Garnett Aydan Jones and Laura Tilley

VARS Technology team up with debt resolution specialists to fight fuel theft

12 Sep 2025

2

University of Lancashire unveils Preston campus installation to celebrate name change University of Lancashire new feature

University of Lancashire unveils Preston campus installation to celebrate name change

12 Sep 2025

3

PM+M welcomes ten new apprentices for 2025 intake Lucy Field, Kate Walsh, Ellie Fisher, Zainab Aswat, Reece Jones, Aisha Bibi Patel, Finley Vila, Uzair Zariwala, Richard Prest, and Charlie Harrison

PM+M welcomes ten new apprentices for 2025 intake

11 Sep 2025

4

ROCCIA strengthens commercial division with senior appointment Andrew Grove

ROCCIA strengthens commercial division with senior appointment

11 Sep 2025

5

Final call for investors: Rossendale community solar project must hit target by November Gary McEwan managing director of Interfloor

Final call for investors: Rossendale community solar project must hit target by November

10 Sep 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Sub36 Networking - Follow the signs
Sub36 Deaf Village Social1200
Networking
17 Sep 2025

Sub36 Networking - Follow the signs

The Deaf Village, Blackburn, BB2 5EN

10:00 - 12:00

LBV124 September/October Launch Event
MBP Arc Cinema Preston Opening 205
Networking
18 Sep 2025

LBV124 September/October Launch Event

The Arc Cinema, Preston, PR1 2BL

08:30 - 10:30

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Longridge Soap Box Derby
Screenshot 2025-06-10 090035.png.png
LBV Hub Fundraisers
14 Sep 2025 - 14 Sep 2025

Longridge Soap Box Derby

Berry Lane, Longridge, PR3 3WH

10:00 - 16:30

Preston Tech Connection - The Ultimate Tech Quiz!
Preston Tech Connection Sept 25.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Sep 2025 - 16 Sep 2025

Preston Tech Connection - The Ultimate Tech Quiz!

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
17 Sep 2025 - 17 Sep 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation
Chorley Council breakfast event new
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation

Worden Hall, Leyland, PR25 3DH

08:00 - 11:00

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September
Sept Freelancer (1).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Speed Networking with BNI
2.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
24 Sep 2025 - 24 Sep 2025

Speed Networking with BNI

Chorley Football Club, Chorley, PR7 3DU

16:00 - 19:00

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September
TMM Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September

Chorley, PR7 2SL

18:00 - 20:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV 123 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin