News
LAA requests verification for Crime Own Client Contracts
On 25 November 2015, the LAA started requesting verification for those offered an Own Client Crime Contract. There is an imminent deadline of 8 December 2015 to be aware of. Firstly, all those who bid for an ‘own client contract’ are being asked now to verify their tender. This applies equally to all bidders including…
Post on November 26th, 2015
Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013
ADVISORY NOTE –Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 On 13 June 2014, some the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 (the Regulations) come into effect. The Regulations will affect contracts entered into by all solicitors’ practices which undertake distance selling arrangements and/or enter into contracts away from their offices such as at a client’s…
Post on June 27th, 2014
Transforming Legal Aid – Next Steps Changes for implementation in January 2014
The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) is implementing some further civil and crime legal aid changes in January 2014. For a summary of the changes, click on the link below: Summary of changes to come into effect in January 2014
Post on January 17th, 2014
Boot them out?
Should solicitors place a vote of no confidence against The Law Society chief executive Des Hudson & President Nicholas Fluck? The vote takes place on Tuesday 17th December. Not since the days of the Kamlesh Bahl affair has The Law Society (TLS) had to weather such a storm. If you can’t remember the Bahl case,…
Post on December 31st, 2013
Which criminal law firms will survive the 17.5% cut?
A controversial article written by David Gilmore which questions conventional wisdom about who will survive the 17.5% cuts has been published by Lawyer Monthly. David explains why small firms are in a better position than larger firms if they can quickly prepare for the reforms. The article can be read here: http://www.lawyer-monthly.com/2013/12/which-criminal-law-firms-will-survive-the-17-5-cut/
Post on December 31st, 2013
Legal Aid Agency’s intentions for tendering the remaining categories under the 2010 Standard Civil Contract
Set out below is a summary of the LAA’s intentions for the following areas: Actions Against the Police, Community Care, Clinical Negligence, Family Mediation, Mental Health, Public Law, Housing Possession Court Duty Scheme, Immigration Removal Centres. Community Care & Mental Health Tenders for these contracts for these categories will be the first to be opened.…
Post on November 29th, 2013
TRANSFORMING LEGAL AID – NEXT STEPS Changes for implementation in December 2013
The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) is planning to proceed with the implementation of some of the changes outlined in the Ministry of Justice’s ‘Transforming Legal Aid – Next Steps’ paper (albeit that the changes are still subject to parliamentary approval). For a summary of the changes which the LAA proposes to implement with effect from…
Post on November 27th, 2013
MoJ publishes second consultation on the reform of legal aid
The MoJ has published details of the Government’s revised proposals for further reform of the criminal legal aid system in England and Wales. The MoJ has modified some of its proposals but will press ahead with some of the reforms in full as set out in its original proposal or in a slightly modified form.…
Post on September 5th, 2013
Law Society Wills and Inheritance Quality Accreditation Scheme
The Law Society has introduced a new quality accreditation scheme for professionals that that specialise in will writing, probate and estate administration work. The Wills and Inheritance Quality Scheme, opening at the end of October 2013, provides a quality standard for this area. The Law Society states that membership of the scheme is based upon:…
Post on September 5th, 2013
Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards 2013
LALYs 2013 DG Legal would like to offer our congratulations to all those short-listed for the awards and to the ultimate winners. The winners of this year’s awards were: Outstanding achievement Raju Bhatt, Bhatt Murphy Criminal defence lawyer Margaret Gordon, Christian Khan/Imran Khan & Partners Legal aid firm Makin Dixon, Bradford Legal aid barrister Jane…
Post on July 13th, 2012