The Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) is an
executive non-departmental public body of the
Scottish Government, responsible for managing
legal aid. It was established in April 1987, under the
Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986, taking over functions previously exercised by the
Law Society.
In 2006 it had an annual budget of approximately £164 million.
History
Providing
free legal assistance
( en, 'for the public good'), usually shortened to , is a Latin phrase for professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment. In the United States, the term typically refers to provision of legal services by legal professionals for p ...
in Scotland is based on the
Poor's Roll of 1424:
''"and gif there bee onie pure creature, for faulte of cunning, or expenses, that cannot, nor may not follow his cause, the King for the love of GOD, sall ordain the judge to purwey and get a leill and a wise Advocate, to follow sik pure creatures causes"''
This was reinforced by a 1587
Act of the Scots Parliament
This is a list of Acts of the Parliament of Scotland. It lists the Acts of Parliament of the old Parliament of Scotland, that was merged with the old Parliament of England to form the Parliament of Great Britain, by the Union with England Ac ...
:
''"quhatsumever lieges of this Realme accused of treason, or for quatsumever crime... full libertie to provide himselfe of Advocates and Praeloquutoures, in competent numbers to defend his life, honour and land, against quhatsumever accusation".''
See also
*
Scottish public bodies
*
Public Defender Solicitor Office, funded by SLAB
References
External links
*
The history of legal aid in Scotland
1987 in law
1987 establishments in Scotland
Government agencies established in 1987
Legal aid
Legal Aid Board
Organisations based in Edinburgh
Legal organisations based in Scotland
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