The Scottish Association of Law Centres (SALC) welcomes the recent report from the Scottish Parliament’s Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee on the state of civil legal assistance in Scotland.

The report follows a detailed inquiry that included a call for views and three evidence sessions. SALC contributed a written response, and Aaliya Seyal, Chief Executive of Legal Services Agency and Secretary of SALC, provided oral evidence.

The Committee found that urgent action is needed to improve the delivery of the civil legal assistance and, in turn, improve access to justice in Scotland.

The report’s key conclusions are that:

  • Legal aid deserts cannot be allowed to persist in Scotland.
  • It is “highly unsatisfactory” that no legislation has been introduced to reform civil legal assistance in this parliamentary session.
  • The Scottish Government must work with the Scottish Legal Aid Board now to progress reforms not requiring primary legislation.
  • In the longer term, the Committee welcomes the emphasis being placed on mixed models of delivery and user voice by the Scottish Government.
  • The Committee also asks that the Scottish Government consider preventative approaches and public legal education as part of its discussion on longer-term reforms.

To read the Committee’s full report, please click here.

As the national body representing the not-for-profit legal sector in Scotland, SALC strongly supports the Committee’s focus on ensuring access to justice for all. SALC advocates for a properly resourced community legal sector, capable of delivering free and accessible legal services to those who need them most.

Legal aid plays a critical role in protecting the rights of vulnerable populations, and we remain committed to collaborating with policymakers, the Scottish Legal Aid Board, and other stakeholders to advance reforms that enhance the effectiveness and reach of legal aid services.

We thank the Committee for undertaking this important inquiry and for its thorough examination of the challenges facing civil legal assistance in Scotland.