Nigel Priestley, Senior Partner at Ridley & Hall recently met Rt Hon Simon Hughes. In December 2013 Mr Hughes was appointed as a Minister of State for Justice and Civil Liberties. The meeting followed an invitation from the Minister to discuss the issues facing family practitioners and the courts.

Mr Priestley commented “We discussed a number of issues. I stressed that cuts to civil legal aid have undoubtedly caused a significant increase in the number of litigants in person in court – people who can’t afford a solicitor.

“There has been a significant increase in the number of litigants in person. I find that out when I talk to colleagues who appear before district judges. It’s having an effect on the bottom rung of justice. It is particularly acute in family cases as two people are required to be adversarial. Lawyers could in the past have helped to resolve difficulties between parties.

“The saving the government thought it would get by not having lawyers has to be counter-balanced by the increase you have to have in court time.

“The government needs to set in motion further consideration of the rights of cohabitees when there is a breakdown of their relationship. Too many people who do not marry believe they have the same rights to sort out assets as those who are divorced. This simply isn’t the case.

“It was a useful meeting and it was a privilege to be invited.”