A Nottingham solicitor has warned that low pay and overbearing democracy could see the end of legal aid in Nottinghamshire which could leave thousands of people without the means to access legal advice.

Patrick Mullins, a partner at Robert Barber Solicitors, with offices in West Bridgford, Eastwood and Hucknall, believes the worst hit will be family law, followed by crime, housing, welfare benefits, personal injury and employment. Already, there has been a 17% reduction in the number of UK solicitors willing to take on Legal Aid family law cases since January 2000. And this number is set to increase.

Robert Barber is one of the few firms of solicitors in Nottingham still offering legal aid but is finding it increasingly difficult to do so. �Contrary to popular belief many high street solicitors work extremely hard for little in return,� said Patrick. �Firms want to continue to offer legal aid but it is becoming more difficult and a number of Nottingham firms have already given it up in favour of more profitable commercial law.�

Legal aid is given to people who cannot afford to pay for legal advice. It is awarded to people whose cases are likely to win and the compensation or other benefits, such as increased contact with or custody of children, are likely to justify the expected cost.

Patrick added: �The legal aid system was established in the fight against social exclusion, however the excessive form filling, low pay and very poor return on all the effort a solicitor puts into each case, could see the system collapsing in front of the very people who need it most.�

Legal aid money comes from the Community Legal Services fund (CLS) and is administered by the Legal Services Commission (formerly the Legal Aid Board). Eligibility for legal aid and payment rates are fixed by the Lord Chancellor�s Department.

In many cases the funding provided by the CLS barely covers the cost of some cases and in some instances solicitors are actually out of pocket.

�Legal aid is a vital service for people who could otherwise not afford to pay for legal advice. The situation is becoming so severe that I believe it won�t be long before there are little or no legal aid services in many parts of Nottinghamshire,� warned Patrick.

Each of Robert Barber�s three offices around Nottingham offer legal aid for family law, family mediation and a number of other problems.