Changes to Criminal Legal Aid

Plans for the criminal legal aid system announced by the Ministry of Justice to cut fees for both barrister and solicitors, seems to have caused a lot of speculation about the exact effect this will have on our clients detained at the police station and represented at court.

All criminal legally aided firms have already been subject to a cut in the fees that we receive for criminal work we undertake. A further cut to those fees is expected by the middle of next year.

The biggest change is not in how we are able to provide assistance to our own clients or those that request our services directly, but will affect the people that are detained at the police station who request the help of the duty solicitor.

It seems that some people, including clients and the police, believe that the changes mean that no one will be entitled to legal aid, this is not the case.

Should the proposed changes go ahead not all firms will be issued with a duty contract, and will therefore not be able to undertake work on the duty rota's that are put in place to assist those persons that are arrested or charged, who do not have their own legal representation from a solicitor.

All persons arrested will still be entitled to free and independent legal advice at the police station, and applications for legally aided work are and will still be made for those that are eligible under the means test system. 

None of the proposed changes will affect the way in which this firm provides it's services to those that request our assistance at the police station and in their court proceedings. We will still provide the same level of service to our clients and continue to provide the client care that we pride ourselves in.