Robert Colwell, from the Wisbech family department, was interviewed in a recent edition of national magazine "Solicitors Journal". In a special edition looking at law in East Anglia they interviewed Robert on the legal issues facing the region.

Robert mainly discussed the legal aid issues facing the region as changes to the system mean that soon fewer and fewer firms will be able to offer this essential service.

Robert explained that he works in the Family Department of MCP dealing mainly with legal aid clients.

He expressed his concern that due to government changes in the legal aid system clients will soon be facing problems with accessibility, quality, justice and speed.

"The Legal Services Commission have not fully appreciated the very individual problems that reform will bring to rural communities. No rural impact assessment has been produced and with their own admission, the reforms were based on an urban model."

Robert acts as liaison for a group of solicitors based in King's Lynn that have fought to unite lawyers in East Anglia to prove to the government they speak as one. He went to Westminster as one of the representatives for his local law society to lobby MPs to show the concern at grass roots.

He said that many people there "felt let down by a government that were clearly pushing through legislation after a shambolic consultation where they had not listened to genuine concerns of practitioners and the not-for-profit sector".

Robert is continuing to fight for legal aid and is extremely happy that national publications are seeing the importance of the work that he and many others in the area are attempting to achieve.

Robert urges all who are concerned about the threat to legal aid to contact their local MPs.

For more information please contact Robert Colwell.