Defense Attorneys Call for Urgent Fee Review  

Belize’s legal aid system could be heading into a serious crunch. The Association of Defense Attorneys says that, starting August first, its members will stop accepting new legal aid cases under the current fee structure. The association says the fees are too low and no longer reflect the time, skill and responsibility required to defend accused persons in court. That matters because the group says its members handle about ninety-five percent of all court-assigned legal aid cases. They insist they are not trying to cripple the justice system, but they want government to keep a commitment made more than a year ago to increase the stipend. Existing cases will continue, but the association is calling for an urgent review of the fee structure, saying access to justice depends on a legal aid system that is properly funded and fair to the attorneys who keep it running.

 

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