It is common knowledge that the reason that firms have lost their funding franchise from the LSC has nothing to do with debt and funds but because there is such entrenched corruption by solicitors who have abused the system for too long. We all know that the reasons given by the government are whitewash. I have and continue to be entitled to legal aid and have never benefited from this. This is due to the fact that either the solicitors have thought that they could use me for getting funding but not doing anywork and that I would not do or say anything and on being reported then suddenly do not wish to submit the funding certificate or they have simply left me high and dry at crtical times ie before a court hearing on the day etc. The idea that the LSO and the SRA are there to protect the public , nobody believes this and there is no confidence in these organisations by the public due to what is a clear conflict of interests. Therefore, I am not disappointed to see legal aid disappearing as I am fed up of having been used and abused by solicitors who took advantage of me and with no repercussions. Todate, I have not yet been assisted by any legal aid lawyer despite the countless forms I have been asked to sign and which then, immediately has been followed by , Oh , sorry we can not help you with this matter and then lying and fabricating alleged advice or sometimes being as arrogant as to commmit what is fraud outright. The system has for too long , lined the pockets of these firms and could list countless firms , with what they call , "easy money", bread and butter money. I hope that the legal aid system gets completely taken down albeit it only for criminal work due to the Human Rights act( if that is not abolished as well soon enough in the Uk) as todate, no lawyer has assisted me in any matter regarding housing, personal injury(the exceptions ofcourse) and family matters. In every case there has been a conflict of interests - who can blame them?: after all, the less work they can do and for which ever side offers them more money, why should they have integrity? I have not come across a firm that has shown any integrity in these matters over the years. In fact, in every circumstance I have only witnessed corruption and fraud and in each case, they have escaped any wrong doing and been given immunity. There is a second issue, and that is that in my opinion there is widespread discrimination in the legal field. I have been the subject of what is clear racial discrimination. You see if you are of a certain demographic type , middleclass or even upperclass (by way of accent) and regardless of your circumstances, ie you could have a really nice educated accent but , you qualify for legal aid, and in need of help - you will not get it. I have had the most extraodinary remarks said to me and on one occassion, have had appointments made and then turned up and then be told they can not help me and no reason given. Clearly just by looking at a person, a firm decides whether to assist you or not. So , if they do not like the way you look,or sound or dress, then they get to be subjective. If public franchise is to continue it should be on the basis that of a rotar and firms should NOT be allowed to choose their clients. My efforts to look clean and tidy and respectable, were in vain. I would have been better of turning up in dirty clothes , smelling and intoxicated and then probably would get help. One firm I went to see once in SE London and I only wish I had recorded this meeting, told me he was surprised that I had come to see him and his firm as "to be honest we only tend to get and help black clients. " This has not been repeated again but it is obvious that on walking into a firm, you are judged and you are assisted according to personal subjectiveness and whether they decide to help you and do their job properly or simply take advantage of you comes down to this. The entire system is corrupt and the firms who are challenging it, as I have seen who they are, are in fact the culprits - no matter how big and powerful they are - It is disappointing as the reputation of the legal field in the Uk in other countries is well known for being totally corrupt and very bad. The entire conduct rules as set out by the SRA and Law Society are a joke. They are not worth the paper they are written on. I have to question how these firms have managed to get away with this and I would replace every firm with a new contracting manager as in my view, there is no way that this widespread abuse of the system could have taken place without their help or turning a blind eye. The truth is our legal system is racist. If you are white, middleclass or have a well spoken accent, you are not deemed to be worthy of help. I hear the courts are now seeing an all time high of negligence claims. One reason only because the LSO and the SRA fail to do their jobs or what they tell the public their job is. I have reported with evidence solicitors barristers with indisputable evidence of fraud and money laundering and in each occassion, the LSO have refused to investigate or the SRA. I know why and now I do not bother to notify them and the only way is to take action in the courts. However, that is alltogether an entirely different issue and the idea that litigants in person are treated fairly is as we know, a nonsense. Please if someone responsible for scrutiny in the goverment is reading this, look at those firms who are fighting this the most because therein lies the culprits. I was even threatened once by a very powerful firm, if I complained and which was oddly enough upheld in my favour but no compensation ever given to me even though they were told to - they ignored the LSO. This director had threatened me that if I persued my complaint I would see how powerful they were. Indeed, this firm then ended up making a false allegation about me to the NCIS. I am waiting my time to build up my case and will be then exposing their actions which amount to fraud as they fabricated these allegations to hurt my family and I. this is a well known firm that you all know and who is listed in the 500 as many are. Question: but how did they get there? through what means? At all costs? Therfore it seems to me that the LSO is a bit like Nato. Ineffective and powerless. So what is the use?