A survey of law firms carried out by the newly launched Alliance for Legal Aid (AfLA) has revealed solicitors doing civil legal aid work are being ‘starved of cash to assist clients in desperate need’.

AfLA launched this week to voice concerns about the provision of legal aid. Its founding members include the Legal Action Group (LAG), the Legal Aid Practitioners Group, the Law Centres Federation and the Young Legal Aid Lawyers. It has called on other individuals or organisations to join.

To mark its launch, the group surveyed 11 law firms and one law centre on the availability of new matter starts, or new cases.The Legal Services Commission allocates firms a number of new matter starts at the beginning of the financial year. With two months remaining of the current financial year, the survey revealed that some firms are having to turn clients away because they have used up their case allocation.

Three firms said they had run out of new matter starts for family cases and been refused more, while another expected to run out in February. Others said they were approaching their limit in welfare benefits and housing work, and had also had their requests for more refused by the LSC.

LAG director Steve Hynes said: ‘The research shows that firms are being starved of cash in some areas to help clients in desperate need. It highlights the fact that we’re dealing with a capped budget and, in a recession, the demand for legal aid goes up, and that need has to be met.’

LSC executive director Hugh Barrett said: ‘All requests to increase case allocations are considered on an individual basis, in light of the overall position within an area.’ Where other providers in an area had spare capacity, requests were likely to be refused, he said.