THE Law Society has stepped in to help protect high street firms and the local supply of legal services by securing an amendment to the Sustainable Communities Bill.
The Private Members Bill seeks to reverse the growing problem of 'ghost town Britain' and the continuing decline of local shops, services and facilities.
The Law Society's amendment, tabled by Julia Goldsworthy MP, ensures that legal services are recognised among those local services which the Bill is seeking to protect.
Des Hudson, chief execut- ive of the Law Society, comments: "Locally provided legal services play an important role in the development of thriving, sustainable local communities.
"This amendment to the Sustainable Communities Bill recognises the importance of local legal services at a time when they are threatened by the crisis in legal aid.
"We hope it will go some way to ensuring that we maintain real access to justice across the country."
The Bill will return to the Commons in mid-June.