A new report from Stirling District Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) has raised concerns about local legal aid provision in areas of law including benefits, discrimination, housing, mental health and education.

There is currently no civil legal assistance office (CLAO) covering Stirling or the wider Forth Valley region.

The CAB report found there are only 17 solicitors registered with the Law Society of Scotland in Stirlingshire – of which only eight are registered with the Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) to provide legal aid work for civil cases.

It also found a lack of transparency among local firms offering legal aid work, which it said made it difficult to establish whether they were charging fees for legal aid applications, and no local firms appeared to offer pro bono support.

Stirling CAB is now calling for the establishment of a local CLAO as well as for a law clinic to be set up at Stirling University on a pilot basis.

It suggests the pilot law clinic should be held one day per week during term time for a period of one term, in partnership with Stirling District CAB and overseen by a paid solicitor.

Craig Anderson, Stirling District CAB manager, said: “The Forth Valley is a legal aid desert – and urgent action is needed to provide people with access to legal support when they need it.

“Some of the most harrowing cases we’ve had at our CAB involve people in crisis. People who have been made homeless, lost jobs or are trying to escape abusive relationships.

“And many of these people simply cannot afford to pay solicitor fees and they shouldn’t have to as that’s what legal aid is there for. It’s a system that helps people get legal advice for free if they qualify.

“But if it’s not being offered locally by solicitors for whatever reason then people are unable to get the help they need and are left trying to unpick problems with landlords, employers, local businesses and individuals, alone.”

He added: “The need to strengthen and improve access to justice for everyone is urgent.

“Whether it’s increased funding for legal aid services, widening eligibility for legal aid so more people qualify for it, or a dedicated legal aid office for our area, everyone in our communities should have access to legal and non-legal support so they can resolve problems, seek remedies and realise their rights.”