The government’s proposals for legal aid reform have no positive regulatory impact and do little to protect or promote the public interest, according to the bar’s regulator.

In its response to the green paper, the Bar Standards Board said the planned scope and eligibility cuts will have a detrimental effect on the diversity of the legal profession, access to justice, the public’s capacity to exercise their legal rights, and the quality of expert witnesses in court cases.

Considering the proposed introduction of a single telephone gateway for the delivery of advice in civil cases, the BSB also warned against the possible provision of unlawful advice by telephone advisers.

BSB chair Lady Deech said: ‘The BSB is committed to protecting the public interest and is alarmed that these proposals will disproportionately affect the most vulnerable consumers at a time when they need the most protection.

‘We are deeply concerned that the proposals for legal aid reform do nothing to enhance the regulatory objectives and have made this clear in our response.’