Family lawyer Brenda Muliner got her wish Tuesday when she requested City council’s backing to keep the Kamloops regional legal aid office open.

Muliner told council five of the province’s six regional offices are slated to close soon. That would leave only the regional office in Terrace and the main one in Vancouver open.

Muliner said cuts to legal aid services have already had an impact on people who can’t afford a lawyer. Trials that would normally take two days now take four because people are unrepresented in court.

That leads to increased court costs for the legal system. And society’s most vulnerable people who cannot get help when they most need it, she said.

Coun. Nancy Bepple moved to write a letter of support stating council wants to see the Kamloops regional legal aid office kept open.

Coun. Marg Spina agreed. Having people phone for help long-distance isn’t providing a service, she said.

“Everyone’s had experiences with 1-800-who-cares?” she said.

Council voted unanimously to send the letter.