PEOPLE in Wiltshire who rely on legal aid lawyers to resolve family disputes may find it harder to get help in future.

That is the warning from local family lawyers who say that firms doing legal aid work will become as rare as NHS dentists.

Family law group Resolution says new fee proposals announced last week by the Legal Services Commission mean that lawyers will only be paid one fee, no matter how difficult or complicated a case is.

Lawyers will therefore struggle to meet the very real needs of their clients.

Peter Berry, of Charles Lucas and Marshall, in Swindon, said: "Legal aid work is quite simply in danger of becoming completely uneconomic.

"We've already seen a massive decline in the number of family legal aid practices from 4,500 in 2000 to 2,800 in 2006 and, under this new fee regime, I can only see this getting worse.

"Family courts are already beleaguered with massive delays - and, as more and more people find themselves with no choice but to represent themselves, the massive backlog of cases and delays within the family courts can only get worse.

"Family cases are one area of the law where speed is absolutely vital.

"In cases involving children it is of paramount importance that court timetables facilitate rapid access and decision-making.

"This new fee scheme can only make an already fragile system worse, and will leave children and vulnerable adults across the region at risk."

Teresa Perchard, the director of policy for Citizens Advice, said: "Legal aid is essential to enable people on limited means to get access to justice.

"However, the Government's proposed system, with limited exceptions, will pay the same per case whether it requires one hour or eight to resolve.

"There will, therefore, be pressure on all legal aid suppliers to cherry-pick simple cases.

"Many of the people that bureaux help are vulnerable and have very complicated cases that take a lot of assistance.

"If those people cannot come to us for help, there may be nowhere else for them to go.

"We pride ourselves on our legal aid system, but there will be nothing to be proud of if the reforms mean vulnerable people are not helped simply because their problems are too complex."