Chris Grayling: Only the highest earners will be denied legal aid under Government reforms Mr Grayling, the Justice Secretary, insisted that his changes to the legal aid system will only hit the wealthiest following warnings from experts that they will leave middle-class families with huge fees. He was responding to claims made by Alistair MacDonald QC, Vice Chairman of the Bar Council, who said that the reforms will create a two-tier justice system where only the wealthiest can afford to have the defence of their choice. Critics have said that people earning more than £37,500 will be denied legal aid under the new system, but sources in the Justice department pointed out that this figure is after people have paid tax, national insurance, their mortgage, council tax, childcare and paid for all of their living expenses. They are absolutely not designed to affect people on relatively low incomes who will always carry on getting access to legal support if they find themselves in court. Mr Grayling believes the reforms will cut the legal aid bill by £220 million a year. He is also introducing competitive tendering among solicitors' firms for contracts to represent defendants in police stations and magistrates courts. Mr Grayling added: "We will continue to uphold everyone's right to a fair trial - these proposals will not affect that in any way.