Equal Before the Law?
To no man will we deny, to no man will we sell or delay justice or right (MAGNA CARTA) Only the millionaire, the masochist or the very poor can think about going to court today.
(DAILY MIRROR)
Legal aid is the most remunerative thing that has happened to the legal profession since the invention of sin. (ANON) If all men are to be equal before the law, all men must have equal access to advice and advocacy. The legal aid system has been developed over the years to reduce the gap between the high idealism and the everyday reality. Tonight's extended Man Alive (postponed from December) examines the gap that still exists and asks how far a fair hearing is still determined by the thickness of your wallet.
On film JACK pizzey reports on cases where denial or restriction of legal aid may have led to injustice. In the studio DESMOND wilcox introduces a discussion between judges, lawyers and laymen: their views range from those who maintain that ' British legal aid is the best in the world ' to those who see it as ' the feeble Cinderella of our social services.'
Research IAN SHARP, HENRY MURRAY Producer TIM SLESSOR Editor ADAM CLAPHAM
Supermarket justice: page 3