*/
The Ministry of Justice’s decision to push ahead with its two-tier contract model for criminal legal aid is of concern to all lawyers engaged in criminal defence work, Bar leaders have said.
The MoJ’s response to the consultation Transforming Legal Aid: Crime Duty Contracts was published on 27 November.
There were 3,942 responses to the whirlwind three-week survey, which was issued after the High Court found an earlier consultation “so unfair as to be unlawful”, because the Government did not disclose the reports from Otterburn Legal Consulting and KPMG on which it had relied in formulating its proposals.
Tenders for 527 duty provider contracts, two more than originally proposed, will be open until 29 January 2015. The MoJ has also confirmed its intention to implement a second fee cut of up to 8.75% in July 2015 for solicitors.
The Bar Council said the proposed changes would result in a “massive and irreversible dislocation in the market for criminal litigators, for no obvious benefit”.
The Criminal Bar Association said: “The changes made pursuant to the consultation are trivial and do not address the problems inherent in the proposals. The Government continues to rely on unreliable assumptions and has ignored the evidence and informed expert opinion.
“We remind the Government of the words of... Lord Faulks QC that, ‘the fat has been so far removed from the carcass of criminal legal aid that these further cuts really threaten our justice system’.”
There were 3,942 responses to the whirlwind three-week survey, which was issued after the High Court found an earlier consultation “so unfair as to be unlawful”, because the Government did not disclose the reports from Otterburn Legal Consulting and KPMG on which it had relied in formulating its proposals.
Tenders for 527 duty provider contracts, two more than originally proposed, will be open until 29 January 2015. The MoJ has also confirmed its intention to implement a second fee cut of up to 8.75% in July 2015 for solicitors.
The Bar Council said the proposed changes would result in a “massive and irreversible dislocation in the market for criminal litigators, for no obvious benefit”.
The Criminal Bar Association said: “The changes made pursuant to the consultation are trivial and do not address the problems inherent in the proposals. The Government continues to rely on unreliable assumptions and has ignored the evidence and informed expert opinion.
“We remind the Government of the words of... Lord Faulks QC that, ‘the fat has been so far removed from the carcass of criminal legal aid that these further cuts really threaten our justice system’.”
The Ministry of Justice’s decision to push ahead with its two-tier contract model for criminal legal aid is of concern to all lawyers engaged in criminal defence work, Bar leaders have said.
The MoJ’s response to the consultation Transforming Legal Aid: Crime Duty Contracts was published on 27 November.
Far-ranging month for the Chair of the Bar
Endometriosis Awareness North, a charity raising awareness of endometriosis and supporting those affected across the North of England, has received a £500 boost from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the most recent data on alcohol misuse in the UK, and the implications for alcohol testing in family proceedings
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how tailored financial planning can help barristers take control of their finances and plan with confidence
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
A £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs has been made to the leading UK charity tackling international parental child abduction and the movement of children across international borders
Seeing the full picture – Baljit Ubhey OBE outlines the CPS action plan to tackle violence against women and girls, offering insights directly relevant to courtroom practice
Heritage as an anchor and a compass, finding our common humanity and embracing the power of the outsider – Melina Antoniadis’s lessons learnt
Is the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office process fit for purpose? Women barristers’ experiences of bullying are not being reported or, if they are, they are not making it through the system, says Tana Adkin KC
Review by Daniel Barnett
Chair of the Bar reports back
