ABSTRACT
It would undoubtedly be simplest for the centres, or a department of which they were a branch, both to give advice and conduct any necessary business including legal proceedings. Whether or not you approve of such a solution depends in the last resort on whether you approve of" bureaucracy " in general and " bureaucracy" in legal matters in particular. An overwhelming majority of the legal profession is wholeheartedly opposed to anything to which the word " officialism " might be applied, and it has sufficient sympathizers to be bound to succeed in its opposition, if such a solution can possibly be avoided. Quite apart from the lack of enterprise and efficiency which is associated with a public office there is the strong argument that if the idea of a legal aid department caught hold it might challenge the independence of the legal profession which constitutes such an important factor iri the fight for the rights of the individual against the encroachments of the State.
