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| Long title | An Act to establish the Legal Services Commission, the Community Legal Service and the Criminal Defence Service; to amend the law of legal aid in Scotland; to make further provision about legal services; to make provision about appeals, courts, judges and court proceedings; to amend the law about magistrates and magistrates’ courts; and to make provision about immunity from action and costs and indemnities for certain officials exercising judicial functions. |
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| Citation | [1998] c 22 |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 27 July 1999 |
The Access to Justice Act 1999 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It replaced the legal aid system in England and Wales. It created the Legal Services Commission, replacing the Legal Aid Board, and two new schemes: Community Legal Service to fund civil and family cases, and the Criminal Defence Service for criminal cases.[1] The Act put a cap on the amount spent on civil legal aid.[2] The use of conditional fee agreements, commonly known as "no-win no-fee", was extended to most civil court cases.[3]
- ^ "Access to Justice Act 1999, emplaw.com". Retrieved 9 July 2012.
- ^ "Law Centres Federation". Archived from the original on 6 January 2007. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
- ^ "How did no-win no-fee change things?". BBC News. 7 May 2008. Retrieved 10 July 2012.