A Liverpool city region law firm has added their support to the campaign to keep Knowsley magistrate’s court open, warning that its closure would threaten access to justice.
Maxwell Hodge, a leading Merseyside based law firm, with an office in Huyton, believes the closure of the court will create delays both for the legal profession and the clients they represent.
In the Northwest alone there are eight magistrates’ courts and nine county courts proposed for closure, including Knowsley, Southport, Northwich and Runcorn, areas of high population.
It is proposed that cases will be relocated to nearby courts such as Liverpool, which will mean residents and their legal representatives will have to travel into the city to pursue a case.
Claire Banks, Partner and Director of contentious law at Maxwell Hodge said: “This closure could seriously challenge access to justice, creating delays both for the legal profession and those seeking redress. Making longer journeys for court justice can also be intimidating and expensive. Vulnerable court users, such as those in cases involving the break up of their family, and children, are likely to feel these effects most sharply.”
With the courts axed, the government will make a saving of £15.3 million. However according to Maxwell Hodge, while cost savings need to be made, closing key courts like Knowsley will put a major strain on the system, which is already under pressure.
Claire said: “Court users are currently experiencing delays in the most straight forward matters being heard and legal proceedings being issued, closing key courts such as Knowsley will add further pressure and ate more delays.”
Claire added: “There is also little doubt that those practitioners working under the financial constraints of legal aid will feel the effects most. Lawyers will have to travel much further to get to their court case, resulting in increased costs. There must then be concern that the already reducing numbers of practitioners, that can afford to work under the legal aid regime, will reduce further.”
Maxwell Hodge is one of the region’s leading law firms operating from eight offices stretching from Huyton to Wirral with a city centre office in the heart of Liverpool’s business district.
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