Claim Today Solicitors take Access to Justice Campaign to MP’s

Claim Today Solicitors have written of Birmingham’s MP’s asking them to oppose changes to No Win No Fee arrangements. Claim Today Solicitors are warning that the changes will drastically reduce access to justice for people of ordinary means. Also high skilled and well-paid jobs will be lost in the city if the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill becomes law.

Claim Today Solicitors will publish the responses for all of the MP’s.

For more information on the Access to Justice Campaign click on the link www.accesstojusticeactiongroup.co.uk

Dear Member of Parliament

I’m writing to you on behalf of Claim Today Solicitors about the Coalition Government’s plan to cut “no win no fee” agreements and how this will end access to justice for thousands of ordinary people. Claim Today Solicitors have represented hundreds of your constituents in recent years, helping them to obtain their rights when they were injured as a result of the negligence of others. Our business is one of the leading firms in Personal Injury in the city and many of our employees, lawyers and support staff, are your constituents too.

Part 2 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill is intended to implement these changes which will cause so much harm. The Bill will receive its third reading on 2nd November.

Many of your constituents use this system to obtain their rights. Many others who work in the vibrant legal services sector in our city rely on the system for their livelihoods. The changes proposed in the Bill will make access to justice the preserve of the rich which excludes most of your constituents. Well-paid jobs with prospects are at a premium in Birmingham and this legislation will only make this situation much worse with job losses being guaranteed in our industry. To use the famous word of the Secretary of State responsible for it, this Bill will be a Double Whammy for your constituents.

The importance of preserving No Win No Fee arrangements has become even more evident recently with the phone hacking scandal, where the victims, including Millie Dowler’s family are using no win, no fee to obtain justice. Professional negligence claimants, consumers, small businesses will all be denied justice if the Bill becomes Law.

The driving force behind the proposed changes to no win no fee arrangements is the powerful insurance industry lobby. They peddle many myths about fraud, insurance premiums rising, and referral fees. The facts are different. Fraud is serious but only accounts for 0.02% of cases. A major insurer has admitted that premiums will actually go up as a result of the changes. And the insurers themselves are major beneficiaries of referral fees, which only a few months ago, the Legal Services Board said had no consumer detriment. Admiral Insurance saw their profits soar last year by 23% and a further 29% in the first half of this year, including 8.8% income from referral fees.

The Government’s plans are a sledgehammer to crack a nut. There are better ways to achieve the Government’s objectives and preserve the certainty claimants need.

If you wish to know more please contact the Access to Justice Action Group (AJAG) on 0800 180 4500 or info@ajag.co.uk or visit their website: www.ajag.co.uk

Please raise these issues with the Minister, Jonathan Djanogly, before it is too late. Please do not support this Bill which will cause so much harm to so many of your constituents.