Medway law student Gemma Blythe has been interviewed by Sky News and a national radio station, both broadcasters seeking her perspective on the latest cuts to legal aid.

Gemma, a stage 2 LLB Law student, studying part-time at the University’s Medway campus, is an active committee member of Young Legal Aid Lawyers (YLAL) and a founding member of the YLAL Kent group. She also works as a Criminal Caseworker for law firm Kent Defence.

In the Sky News article ‘Barristers strike over cuts to legal aid‘, Gemma was interviewed along with Jonathan Black, president of the London Criminal Court Solicitors Association, Joanne Cecil, a barrister at Garden Court Chambers, and a Ministry of Justice spokesperson. Her views were sought after barristers made a decision to strike in solidarity with criminal defence solicitors, who face cuts of 8.75% to their fees. Gemma was quoted as saying: ‘Those who cannot afford to pay for a solicitor, and those who are denied legal aid, are suffering at the hands of the Government.’

Former BBC sports presenter Georgie Frost also interviewed Gemma for her daily ‘Consuming Issues’ show, a consumer finance programme on Share Radio. In the interview, Gemma details how ongoing cuts to legal aid are dramatically affecting the amount that solicitors and barristers are paid and how ‘proper pay’ for legal professionals is important to ensure the best representation possible for clients seeking justice.

Follow Gemma on her blog ‘Thoughts on the criminal Justice System‘ and on Twitter @gemma_blythe.