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Legal Aid Fight Goes On

(28 Feebruary 2015)

The Law Society and practitioner groups will continue their fight against criminal legal aid reforms after the High Court threw out Judicial Review challenges as to their legality. Laws LJ said in his judgement ‘I should conclude without hesitation that the [reform] scheme is proportionate. It is accepted on all hands that consolidation in the legal aid market is needed, if legal aid is to be provided at reduced fees. It may be reasonably concluded that this is the proper way to achieve it’. The Legal Aid Agency said it intends to continue with the tender bid as soon as possible and will offer further guidance to their potential bidders ‘in due course’. The Law Society and practitioner groups have until this Friday at 4pm to get the matter to the Court of Appeal.

[Courtesy: The Law Society Gazette]