SALC issues press statements, organises training and events, and responds to consultations on access to justice issues that are important to the non-for-profit legal advice sector, and to the communities we serve.

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The financial eligibility limits for advice and assistance need increased

The title of the Herald’s recent ‘Beyond Breaking Point: Scotland’s Legal Aid Crisis’ series reflects the reality of legally-aided lawyering in Scotland. The concerns expressed in those articles over the bureaucracy of the legal aid system, the inadequate pay rates and legal aid deserts will be familiar to those working in the sector. One problematic…

Human Rights Bill for Scotland

We responded to the Scottish Government’s consultation on a Human Rights Bill for Scotland.  We expressed support for the core promise of the Human Rights Bill to incorporate key economic, social, cultural and environmental rights, which could have a transformative impact on the realisation of rights for our communities. However, we expressed disappointment at the…

Scottish Civil Justice Council: Remote Hearings

We responded to the Scottish Civil Justice Council consultation on Mode of Attendance at Court Hearings.  We shared our experience of legal practice during the Covid-19 pandemic and the impact of remote hearing arrangements for our service users, highlighting specific cases in which the remote hearing rules had disproportionately disadvantaged people without access to technology…

Scottish Government: Legal Aid Reform

We responded to the Scottish Government’s consultation on Legal Aid Reform.  We explained why the current judicare system of legal aid does not work effectively for areas served by law centres and urgently called for more targeted approach with additional flexibility to respond to emerging needs.  We also argued for legal aid to be recognised…