Next week sees the launch in the House of Commons of Justice for All, a broad coalition of over 1,000 legal and advice groups, politicians, trade unions, community groups and members of the public.

It has been set up in response to the government’s proposed legal aid cuts, to help raise awareness of the importance of advice and representation for the most vulnerable in society, and ensure that everyone is treated fairly under the law, regardless of their means.

But will it make a difference? While the impact of legal aid cuts on vulnerable people is clear to those lawyers who advise them, the public and politicians seem less aware and less concerned about the issue.

The public, educated to a large extent by certain sections of the media to believe that legal aid merely fill the wallets of fat cat lawyers who get the guilty off or enable illegal immigrants to stay in England, is not anxious for spending to increase, so most politicians recognise the issue is not a vote winner and do not address it.

And, at this time of austerity and all round belt-tightening, when saving money is on everyone’s agenda, neither is likely to change their position. So how will this group win the hearts and minds of politicians and the public and show them why they should care?

Ahead of the launch and event to lobby MPs on Wednesday 12 January, the group is urging supporters to invite their MP along and provide them with information about local access to free independent advice, and the consequences for clients if they are unable to obtain it.

Twenty MPs have signed an early day motion welcoming the campaign’s launch and calling on the government to rethink its plans for the provision of legal services, which will see scope and eligibility cuts and a reduction in fee rates.

But will this be enough to effect a change? Or will it take a real tragedy before people realise the harm being done and take action?

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