LEGAL ADVICE DIRECT: will address provision, says Tory leader


David Cameron last week praised an Oxfordshire law firm's online legal advice system as a way of providing an 'oasis in the desert' of legal aid provision.



But the Legal Services Commission (LSC) - though 'enthusiastic' about the technology's potential - nearly stopped the project getting off the ground by refusing to expand the firm's legal aid contract.



At the launch of Legal Advice Direct (LAD) in his Witney constituency last week, the leader of the Conservative Party said the service could help address the lack of legal aid provision in his constituency and beyond.



LAD uses an adapted online conferencing system with contact points in places such as family centres to provide outreach legal advice.



'In west Oxfordshire we haven't had any solicitors doing legal aid, so maybe this will be an oasis in the desert,' Mr Cameron said at the launch. He added that he had met with the LSC about legal aid reform and 'access to legal aid solicitors in places like west Oxfordshire', adding that it was 'quite enthusiastic' about using technology to help.



LAD sole principal Marlan Higgins said the LSC had pulled back from funding those very services only five days before launch. The project will now go ahead with support from the local authority and private firms.



An LSC spokesman said it has supported LAD but could not extend its contract as it is only provisionally franchised. This could be reviewed when LAD is fully franchised, probably later this year.



Rupert White