Law Society’s Gazette, 8 March 1972

TV Campaign for Legal Aid

There are still too many people with legal problems who are unaware, not only of their rights, but also the benefits to which they may be entitled under the Legal Aid and Advice Scheme. And so, for the first time since the scheme began in October 1950, television is to be used to advertise it in the north-east.

The Tyne-Tees area has been chosen because of the high proportion of the population within the income limits of the Legal Aid and Advice Scheme. The television commercials will refer those wishing to take advantage of the Legal Aid and Advice Scheme to press advertising in certain regional papers, as well as regional editions of the TV Times and the Daily Mirror - which contain a coupon.

The coupon mentions five areas in which advice is sought: marriage and domestic problems, accidents, landlord and tenant, hire purchase and employment. Instructions will be to send the coupon to the Area Committee offices in Newcastle and a photostat copy will be sent from there to a firm of solicitors.

When the firm of solicitors receives a copy of the coupon they will write to the person seeking advice offering an appointment as soon as possible. To avoid waste of a solicitor’s time, each person will be asked to inform the solicitor concerned if he or she is unable to keep the appointment.

Local social service authorities and Citizens Advice bureaux have been briefed about the scheme and have promised full co-operation. The commercial is black and white film and has been entered by Royds (Manchester) Ltd for the TV Mail Awards.

Humour in the office

A client of ours, in rejecting a Legal Aid Certificate with a high contribution, writes as follows: ‘I am wondering if you are now in a position to advise me of the approximate cost of your services, as I am unable to afford legal aid.’ Obviously, legal aid now benefits only the wealthy, and once more the poor must rely upon the generosity of the legal profession!

Hill & Abott, Chelmsford, Essex

Weekly Gazette

In view of the somewhat pop image of the new weekly Gazette, I look forward to seeing the first crossword puzzle.

N H Jackson, Malvern, Worcs.

Whoever decided to issue our Gazette weekly? We now have a weekly dose of advertisements and trivia. Presumably it brings in more advertising revenue. There cannot possibly be said anything else in its favour.

To think that I shall have 50 or so of these to find space for every year fills me with horror. Please revert as soon as possible to the monthly Gazette with its ‘throw-away’ supplement.

Ernest Leland, Romford, Essex