Hundreds of jobs axed at legal services agency

A GOVERNMENT agency which provides legal advice to millions of people is to cut 600 jobs and close offices, staff were told today.

The Legal Services Commission plans to reduce its workforce from 1,700 to 1,100 over the next three years. The job losses will be phased as offices close in Brighton, Cardiff, Cambridge, Reading, Leeds, Chester and Birmingham.

The commission is a government agency providing information, advice and legal representation to two million people a year in England and Wales. The service helps people with civil legal problems such as family breakdown, death and housing.

Rehana Azam, of the GMB union, said: "This is very disappointing news for the Legal Services Commission staff and people seeking legal aid. We will fight a vigorous campaign to minimise the job losses. It is essential to ensure that legal aid services to the public are maintained in these times of recession and it is particularly important there are no cutbacks in the services to people facing debts and housing problems."

None of the offices will close until next year at the earliest.

The commission said: "These changes are part of the transformation of legal aid in England and Wales which is designed to deliver improved services to clients.

"More efficient processes and increased use of electronic working will enable us to provide these services with fewer staff and to deliver better value for money for the taxpayer."