Lady Hale speaks at Henry Hodge Memorial lecture

28th June 2011

The second annual Henry Hodge Memorial lecture, hosted by the Law Society, took place last night (Monday) evening.

The event was packed to the walls with a 'who's who' of London’s legal community in attendance. Hodge Jones & Allen senior partner and lifelong friend of Henry, Patrick Allen introduced the evening, followed by a welcome from Law Society President Linda Lee. Lady Hale, the first and only woman of the twelve Law Lords gave the lecture.

In Lady Hale's speech, entitled "Equal Access to Justice in the Big Society", she stated the new Government reforms to legal aid will have “a disproportionate effect upon the poorest and most vulnerable in society".

Legal experts have warned that the legal aid reforms may mean the closure of a third of English and Welsh law centres. These centres provide legal advice for those who do not have the funds to instruct a solicitor.

The lecture, which takes place yearly, is in remembrance of Hodge Jones & Allen co-founder and later High Court Judge, Henry Hodge, who died from leukaemia in 2009.

Patrick Allen said “Henry Hodge was committed throughout his professional life to the cause of providing legal help for individuals suffering from injustice. He was an enthusiastic defender of legal aid and would have been horrified to see to the cuts which the current Government proposes to make to the scheme.”