Justice Minister Naomi Long has released two public engagement papers to reform the legal aid system in Northern Ireland. The papers seek views on simplifying application processes and speeding up decisions for legal assistance.

The initiative follows a Department of Justice review of legal aid, which involved stakeholder input and a call for evidence. The review found the current system slow and complex, hindering access for eligible people.

Key areas for feedback include financial eligibility rules, access for asylum seekers and immigrants, support for domestic abuse victims, and policies on contributions to legal aid costs.

Long stated legal aid helps those unable to afford legal help access justice when needed. She noted the system often deters people due to its complexity and proposed approaches to make financial rules simpler and fairer.

No final decisions have been made. The consultation aims to gather views for informed reforms to the justice system.