Bill to Make Legal Aid Available in Criminal and Civil Cases is Passed by the National Assembly of Gambia
Legal Services E-lert
Bibliographic Info:
Author: Baboucarr Senghore
Source: The Point (Gambia)
Date: October 30, 2008
The Point reports: "The seeming lack of legal representation in criminal or civil matters in the country will soon be a thing of the past if the new National Agency for Legal Aid Bill passed by the National Assembly on Monday [October 27, 2008] is anything to go by. The Bill seeks to establish the National Agency for Legal Aid that will not only ensure that legal aid is made available in accordance with the bill; but also inter alia maintain a register of legal practitioners who are willing to assist or represent persons entitled to Legal Aid under the bill. Under the bill, Legal Aid will be available at a later date to a person who earns not more than such minimum wages as the government may specify and desires legal representation in any criminal or civil matter. Legal Aid under the bill consists, among other things, of the assistance of a legal practitioner, including all such assistance as is usually given by a legal practitioner in the steps preliminary or incidental to any proceedings . . . . The bill further establishes the Legal Aid Fund, which will, among other things, be used to pay fees and expenses properly incurred in providing legal aid and legal costs awarded against a person granted Legal Aid under the bill."