In his speech to the Assise d’Héritage – the ceremonial opening of the legal year – Sir Philip told lawyers that they should not shoulder the burden of legal aid cases alone. He argued that public money should cover lawyers on legal aid cases after they have worked beyond a certain number of hours. Legal aid has been seen as the price lawyers and law firms pay for working in a lucrative profession. The Advocacy Oath, which dates back to 1771, includes a promise to represent ‘widows, the poor, orphans and persons who are unable to obtain representation’. Speaking at yesterday’s ceremony, attended by the Lieutenant-Governor, Lieutenant-General Andrew Ridgway, the Jurats, the Earl of Jersey and the European Commission director general of the justice and home affairs directorate, Jonathon Faull, Sir Philip said that taxpayers’ money should be made available for long or complex cases.
