'Desperation out there' looking for lawyers through civil legal aid scheme

Fine Gael Councillor Shane O'Callaghan and family law solicitor Carmel Best are concerned about the lack of funds available to cover legal aid in family law. Picture: Dan Linehan

Calls are being made for an urgent overhaul of the civil legal aid scheme amid a shortage of active members within the family law solicitors panel.

Just under 34,000 legal aid cases were referred to private solicitors under the scheme over the last five years.