Counsel Magazine

MPs have warned legal aid reforms are threatening the future of the junior Bar, in a damning report on the Legal Services Commission (“LSC”).

The Committee of Public Accounts (“PAC”) report into legal aid procurement, published in February, criticised the LSC for having “lax” financial controls and management information which, for example, led it to overpay solicitors by £25 million in 2008-09 resulting in it having its accounts qualified. It attacked the LSC over its “poor financial management” and lack of knowledge about the costs and profitability of legal aid law firms.