In brief: Law Society fears for Woolf reforms funding

The Law Society has echoed the concerns of the majority of the profession in questioning the Government's will to commit financially to Lord Woolf's proposed reforms for the civil justice system. In its response to the Woolf report the society argues the Government must make the investment necessary to streamline and simplify the system and it warns that without adequate initial funding there will be little hope of improvement. Chair of the Courts and Legal Services committee Robert Winstanley said the investment would pay dividends. "Using the courts will be speedier and less complex, which will lead to efficiency gains for all concerned," he said. "In particular, if the proposals are implemented they should reduce the cost of legal aid."