Civil law isn't working

The prospect for ordinary people seeking a just and legal resolution to a dispute is bleak indeed if solicitors responding to the Law Society of Scotland's questionnaire on civil legal aid cases is representative of the profession. It is in the nature of civil cases that they affect the most deeply-felt aspects of life. Divorce, custody of children, interdicts against the perpetrators of domestic violence and the pursuit of debts are the staple fare of civil law. For those involved, they are vital.