Letter: No law for the poor

D. Gr Newman
Tuesday 09 December 1997 00:02 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Sir: Geoffrey Hoon asserts (letter, 2 December) that small high- street solicitor's practices, if well managed, may well be better off with conditional fees than legal aid.

The true position is that these small practices are not going to be able to conduct personal injury claims on behalf of the poor. Most people, in my experience, rapidly become poor when laid off work through injury. They are going to be more anxious to use their reduced income to keep the mortgage paid and the kids fed than paying court fees, doctors' fees and insurance premiums. All the specialist expertise in the office is scarcely likely to change that.

Small practices need to be able to offer their clients a full range of services across a wide income spectrum. The Government's proposals attack that.

D G R NEWMAN

Warrington, Cheshire

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in