K. J. Commons & Co is a busy and successful firm providing legal services to all sectors of society.

We have always made it a priority to provide and promote Legal Aid, so that the most disadvantaged in the community have had access to our expertise and experience.

This is a time of change - the Legal Aid Board has been replaced by the Legal Services Commission, which governs the newly launched Community Legal Service (dealing with civil law matters), and which will govern the Criminal Defence Service when it comes into being in October 2000.

Approximately 3000 firms have decided not to continue to provide legal services in what was the Legal Aid sector, citing poor rates of remuneration and overly burdensome administration as good reasons for their decision.

Whilst we agree with certain of their complaints, we remain as committed as ever to the sector.

We are alarmed that the re-structuring of what was Legal Aid may lead to particularly needy individuals falling through the funding net.

In those instances where we believe a serious injustice will follow as a result of the absence of funding, we will - as we always have - provide our services free of charge.

It will be readily appreciated that such instances will need careful scrutiny and the prior agreement of a Partner. Assistance will be given wherever the joint criteria of merit, need and total absence of all other funding alternatives are concurrently present.