THE Attorney-General, Mr Jeremy Mathews, is looking at ways to make the legal service more accessible and affordable to the public.
In reply to a question from councillor Mr Lee Wing-tat, Mr Mathews said the Government was aware of public concern over the level of fees charged by lawyers and was considering a number of options.
One was to include lay members on the Costs Committee established under the Legal Practitioners Ordinance, he said.
Other options included the removal of certain disputes from the courts to specialised tribunals and the transfer of some matters from the High Court to the District Court.
He said the suggestion by Mr Lee to publish a list of fees as guidelines to the public was useful and he would pursue the matter in meetings with the Law Society, the Bar Association, the Judiciary and law teachers.
Mr Mathews said a comprehensive review of the law, policies and practices governing the provision of legal aid was under way to ensure public access to these services.
