This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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In-court advice projects extended
26/01/2006
Pilot projects at sheriff courts which provide free legal advice to people involved in proceedings are to be extended for a further three years.
The decision follows the evaluation of in-court advice pilots running in Aberdeen, Airdrie, Dundee, Hamilton and Kilmarnock.
The initial evaluation, published today, found that the pilots were improving efficiency and increasing client confidence in court proceedings but that more time is needed before a decision can be taken on rolling out service more widely.
Deputy Justice Minister Hugh Henry said:
"Good advice must be available to all, at the right time and in the right place, if we are to have a justice system that is fair and effective. That is why I am delighted by the initial success of the in-court advice pilots.
"I want to make sure that when people hit problems, the legal advice and information is there to help prevent problems escalating. Many people can't afford to employ the assistance of a legal professional.
"Of course legal aid is available where appropriate. But by making sure free legal advice and information is also available in court for issues such as debt, housing and small claims we can remove inequalities and close the opportunity gap in terms of access to justice.
"By extending the pilots for a further three years the good work of the dedicated professionals who provide this service can be further developed, and can feed into the formulation of our national policy on delivery of legal support.
"Better planned and co-ordinated legal advice services at a local level will form an important part of our drive to provide legal services and safeguards for the way we live today."
Local Citizens Advice Bureaux provide the service in Aberdeen, Airdrie and Hamilton. In Dundee it is a joint venture by CAB and Shelter. East Ayrshire Council's anti-poverty team run the pilot in Kilmarnock. Funding is also provided to the Homelessess Advice Desk in Paisley Sheriff Court, which is run by Paisley Law Centre.
Funding totalling £320,000 per annum has been made available for the extension of the pilots.
All rojects have the same remit to provide a range of sevices to people without legal representation involved in civil court proceedings. These include small claims procedures and debt and heritable cases in summary cause procedure.
The five services differ in their management structure. Four of the five pilots have one full-time in-court adviser, all of whom have experience of working in advice provision and one of whom has a degree in law. Dundee, however, has two part-time advisers, both of whom are solicitors.