Law and Rights
As mentioned in the previous post, the government has published revised proposals for transforming legal aid - Ministry of Justice - Law Society and MoJ agree new proposals for criminal legal aid. The revised proposals may be read HERE and are open for consultation but only until 1st November (extended from 18th October 2013).
The estimable Crimeline has published a very helpful summary of the proposals, together with links to the various documents - details here. Whilst there is much detail, some key features are that Price Competitive Tendering (PCT) has been dropped and, in its place, there will be two forms of contract: Own Client Contracts and Duty Client Contracts. There will be no limit on new entrants / existing firms wanting Own Client Contracts. Duty client contracts will be awarded on the basis of quality and capacity rather than on price. There is to be a phased cut of 17.5% in fees with 8.5% in 2014 and the remainder in 2015. For Very High Cost Criminal Cases there is a 30% cut in fees and also action is to be taken to reduce the use of multiple advocates in such cases (see consultation para 1.26).
There is much more - e.g. the consultation looks at two alternative graduated fee proposals for criminal advocacy (para 1.20). There are some modifications to the earlier proposals relating to prison law (para. 1.23). Further consultation is to take place regarding payment for the permission stages in judicial review (1.25). There will be reduced representation fees for solicitors in family cases covered by the Care Proceedings Graduated Fee Scheme (1.26). Further consultation will also take place regarding the impact of the roll out of 'Universal Credit' and also the introduction of the new Family Court from 1st April 2014 - (see para. 1.28).
The Law Society Gazette 5th September - This is best deal possible - reaction to amended legal aid plan
Legal Aid Handbook - Transforming legal aid: what the government now propose
'Explaining the Law Society?s approach to talks with the MoJ over the summer, president Nicholas Fluck said the two parties shared key objectives - to ensure the continued provision of high-quality legal services for those accused of a crime and to secure long-term sustainability in the criminal legal aid sector. It is with these objectives in mind that we have agreed to the modified proposals,? he said. He accepted that criminal legal aid lawyers will still face a ?challenging? future, but said the revised plans offer ?genuine opportunities? for those firms who wish to continue to work in legal aid and pledged that the Society will work to support them through the changes. Though challenging, today?s proposals represent the opportunity of a long-term sustainable future for many of our members working in criminal legal aid,? he said. No change is not, and has never been, a realistic option. The current market is ill-equipped to deal with the challenges of the future.?
Maura McGowan QC - Chair of the Bar Council - reacted by saying:
"We were relieved to see that the Ministry of Justice has listened to the public and to the profession about the importance of retaining client choice. It is deeply regrettable that the Ministry does not appear to have moved on many other areas of justified and evidenced concern.
It remains the case that cuts to legal aid are the harshest in the public sector. The amount of money which the Ministry of Justice is seeking to save does not justify the consequences of these cuts. It is inevitable that this will impact heavily on the quality of both criminal and civil legal aid. The people who lose out the most are the public who rely on a justice system which operates efficiently in the public interest.
We shall study the paper carefully. Our response will aim to preserve the heart of the legal aid scheme that has played such a vital role in providing access to justice for all."
Liberty asked - Legal Aid: Is the tide turning? They see the new proposals as an improvement but argue that 'the fight for fairness goes on.' That must be so given that the revised proposals will operate very harshly in some areas such as prison law.
There is much to consider. Whilst the demise of PCT is to be welcomed, the severe cuts to fees seem set to drive many criminal legal aid practitioners out of the market and the future of the independent criminal bar looks very bleak indeed. The proposals are bound to result in further consolidation of the market in legal aid services provided by solicitor's firms. The revised proposals are presented as an agreement between the Law Society and the MoJ and that leaves the Bar very isolated. (Divide and rule comes to mind).
For now, I will leave the last word to the chairman of the Society of Asian Lawyers Sailesh Mehta who said that instead of an ?instant and unfair culling? firms will face a ?slower and more lingering death? for which they are ?expected to give humble thanks?. He warned that the reform package risked ?irreparable damage to the justice system and a result? that will result in miscarriages of justice. The Society of Asian Lawyers reports that a loss of 2400 firms has occurred just in London over the last 4 years. The proposals will reduce this further - (Footnote 1).
Footnote:
From the Society of Asian Lawyers website:
Four years ago, there were about 4,000 firms of solicitors who were entitled to offer legal assistance to those involved in the criminal justice system. In London, a surprising 40% of such firms were owned or controlled by Asian and Black lawyers. As a result of changes to the system over the last four years, the number has gone down from 4,000 to 1,600 firms. A disproportionate number of those firms that have closed have been owned by Black and Asian lawyers. The Grayling plan is to allow only 400 firms to continue. We fear that of the 75% of firms who will lose the right to practice in criminal legal aid cases, a disproportionate number will be Black and Asian owned or controlled. Such a plan will inevitably result in a diminution of competition, choice and quality of service.
Grayling will make a statement in Parliament this morning - now expected 12 - 12.30 (not 10.30 as originally planned) A new consultation paper will be published The broad plan for PCT has been scrapped The crime contract will be extended from September 2014 until Summer 2015 There will be no limit on new entrants/existing firms wanting an 'own client contract' (see below) New contract areas - 62. London split into 9 areas Special rules to protect rural areas There will however be 2 contracts A 'own client contract', and A 'duty client contract' Consultation on how many 'duty client contracts' are needed in each area Competitive tender for duty contracts, but on quality and capacity, not price. Very like the Law Society model proposed in June 17.5% rate cuts, 2 phases. 8.5% in February 2014, the remainder in 2015 30% cut to VHCC fees Single fee for police station cases Single fee for cat 1/2 and 3 cases in magistrates' court, subject to exceptional costs cases In crown court, cases under 500 PPE paid at same rate Minimum trial fee for advocates - £225 per day New push on streamlining criminal cases The total cuts (so lower court and crown court advocacy) broadly in line with original intention, so £220 million by 2018 Review into Criminal Advocacy to report in 6 months time - See more at: http://www.crimeline.info/news/pct-consultation-response-1#sthash.5pK3jAzR.dpuf
- Criminal Legal Aid
The coalition government (2010-15) reduced considerably the provision of legal aid for civil cases. The Conservative government is pressing ahead with plans - put together by the coalition government - to reduce fees payable to solicitors...
- Fight The Good Fight ... Defending Legal Aid
The fight for the future of legal aid continues. Please read this superb item on the website of 1 Pump Court - Defending Legal Aid. A couple of quotes from the article: 'The latest round of consultation, due to end on 1st November 2013,...
- Transforming Legal Aid ~ Reaction ~ A Few Of The Tweets
In no particular order, just a brief sample of the tweets which have appeared regarding the government's revised legal aid proposals. Transforming legal aid - previous post The revised proposals may be read HERE and are open for consultation but...
- Legal Aid - Death By A Thousand Cuts
The present government was always unlikely to be satisfied with their already severe cuts to civil legal aid enacted by the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO). The Solicitor's Journal takes a look...
- The Cull In Legal Aid For Family Work - 46% Fewer Firms
Even the Legal Services Commission has admitted that a cut of 46% of solicitors firms providing family law services was not intended - see "LSC chief: tender outcome "unintentional" - Law Society Gazette 5th August. Even if true, that is little...
Law and Rights
Transforming legal aid: Next steps ~ A new consultation ~ the fight for fairness is not over
The estimable Crimeline has published a very helpful summary of the proposals, together with links to the various documents - details here. Whilst there is much detail, some key features are that Price Competitive Tendering (PCT) has been dropped and, in its place, there will be two forms of contract: Own Client Contracts and Duty Client Contracts. There will be no limit on new entrants / existing firms wanting Own Client Contracts. Duty client contracts will be awarded on the basis of quality and capacity rather than on price. There is to be a phased cut of 17.5% in fees with 8.5% in 2014 and the remainder in 2015. For Very High Cost Criminal Cases there is a 30% cut in fees and also action is to be taken to reduce the use of multiple advocates in such cases (see consultation para 1.26).
There is much more - e.g. the consultation looks at two alternative graduated fee proposals for criminal advocacy (para 1.20). There are some modifications to the earlier proposals relating to prison law (para. 1.23). Further consultation is to take place regarding payment for the permission stages in judicial review (1.25). There will be reduced representation fees for solicitors in family cases covered by the Care Proceedings Graduated Fee Scheme (1.26). Further consultation will also take place regarding the impact of the roll out of 'Universal Credit' and also the introduction of the new Family Court from 1st April 2014 - (see para. 1.28).
The Law Society Gazette 5th September - This is best deal possible - reaction to amended legal aid plan
Legal Aid Handbook - Transforming legal aid: what the government now propose
'Explaining the Law Society?s approach to talks with the MoJ over the summer, president Nicholas Fluck said the two parties shared key objectives - to ensure the continued provision of high-quality legal services for those accused of a crime and to secure long-term sustainability in the criminal legal aid sector. It is with these objectives in mind that we have agreed to the modified proposals,? he said. He accepted that criminal legal aid lawyers will still face a ?challenging? future, but said the revised plans offer ?genuine opportunities? for those firms who wish to continue to work in legal aid and pledged that the Society will work to support them through the changes. Though challenging, today?s proposals represent the opportunity of a long-term sustainable future for many of our members working in criminal legal aid,? he said. No change is not, and has never been, a realistic option. The current market is ill-equipped to deal with the challenges of the future.?
Maura McGowan QC - Chair of the Bar Council - reacted by saying:
"We were relieved to see that the Ministry of Justice has listened to the public and to the profession about the importance of retaining client choice. It is deeply regrettable that the Ministry does not appear to have moved on many other areas of justified and evidenced concern.
It remains the case that cuts to legal aid are the harshest in the public sector. The amount of money which the Ministry of Justice is seeking to save does not justify the consequences of these cuts. It is inevitable that this will impact heavily on the quality of both criminal and civil legal aid. The people who lose out the most are the public who rely on a justice system which operates efficiently in the public interest.
We shall study the paper carefully. Our response will aim to preserve the heart of the legal aid scheme that has played such a vital role in providing access to justice for all."
Liberty asked - Legal Aid: Is the tide turning? They see the new proposals as an improvement but argue that 'the fight for fairness goes on.' That must be so given that the revised proposals will operate very harshly in some areas such as prison law.
There is much to consider. Whilst the demise of PCT is to be welcomed, the severe cuts to fees seem set to drive many criminal legal aid practitioners out of the market and the future of the independent criminal bar looks very bleak indeed. The proposals are bound to result in further consolidation of the market in legal aid services provided by solicitor's firms. The revised proposals are presented as an agreement between the Law Society and the MoJ and that leaves the Bar very isolated. (Divide and rule comes to mind).
For now, I will leave the last word to the chairman of the Society of Asian Lawyers Sailesh Mehta who said that instead of an ?instant and unfair culling? firms will face a ?slower and more lingering death? for which they are ?expected to give humble thanks?. He warned that the reform package risked ?irreparable damage to the justice system and a result? that will result in miscarriages of justice. The Society of Asian Lawyers reports that a loss of 2400 firms has occurred just in London over the last 4 years. The proposals will reduce this further - (Footnote 1).
Footnote:
From the Society of Asian Lawyers website:
Four years ago, there were about 4,000 firms of solicitors who were entitled to offer legal assistance to those involved in the criminal justice system. In London, a surprising 40% of such firms were owned or controlled by Asian and Black lawyers. As a result of changes to the system over the last four years, the number has gone down from 4,000 to 1,600 firms. A disproportionate number of those firms that have closed have been owned by Black and Asian lawyers. The Grayling plan is to allow only 400 firms to continue. We fear that of the 75% of firms who will lose the right to practice in criminal legal aid cases, a disproportionate number will be Black and Asian owned or controlled. Such a plan will inevitably result in a diminution of competition, choice and quality of service.
- Criminal Legal Aid
The coalition government (2010-15) reduced considerably the provision of legal aid for civil cases. The Conservative government is pressing ahead with plans - put together by the coalition government - to reduce fees payable to solicitors...
- Fight The Good Fight ... Defending Legal Aid
The fight for the future of legal aid continues. Please read this superb item on the website of 1 Pump Court - Defending Legal Aid. A couple of quotes from the article: 'The latest round of consultation, due to end on 1st November 2013,...
- Transforming Legal Aid ~ Reaction ~ A Few Of The Tweets
In no particular order, just a brief sample of the tweets which have appeared regarding the government's revised legal aid proposals. Transforming legal aid - previous post The revised proposals may be read HERE and are open for consultation but...
- Legal Aid - Death By A Thousand Cuts
The present government was always unlikely to be satisfied with their already severe cuts to civil legal aid enacted by the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO). The Solicitor's Journal takes a look...
- The Cull In Legal Aid For Family Work - 46% Fewer Firms
Even the Legal Services Commission has admitted that a cut of 46% of solicitors firms providing family law services was not intended - see "LSC chief: tender outcome "unintentional" - Law Society Gazette 5th August. Even if true, that is little...