Legal Aid Reform: The Way AheadThe legal aid system is one of the cornerstones of the post-war Welfare State, and since its creation nearly 60 years ago, it has enabled millions of people to access legal advice, support and representation; many of whom would otherwise have been denied access to justice because they could not have afforded to pay. However, the expectations and pressures faced by the legal aid system today are very different to those when it was created, and this document sets out the Government's proposals to reform the system to ensure its sustainability and effectiveness in contributing to the fight against social exclusion. These proposals follow on from three other documents: i) the Government's long-term strategy for legal aid 'A fairer deal for legal aid' published in July 2005 (Cm 6591, ISBN 0101659121); ii) the recommendations of the independent review of legal aid procurement undertaken by Lord Carter of Coles (details are available at www.legalaidprocurementreview.gov.uk/publications.htm) published in July 2006; and iii) a consultation paper jointly issued by the Department for Constitutional Affairs and the Legal Services Commission (details available at www.dca.gov.uk/consult/legal-aidsf/sustainable-future.htm) published in July 2006. |
Contents
Contents | 3 |
Criminal Legal Aid | 14 |
Civil Family and Immigration Legal Aid | 24 |
Managing The Change | 39 |
Conclusion | 48 |
Outline of Government Responses to Lord Carters proposals for Legal | 57 |
Common terms and phrases
Accept Recommendation advocacy advocates Ahead Carter Recommendation April assessment Bar Council best value competition best value tendering boundary areas Carter Recommendation DCA/LSC Carter's Proposals Response Changes to Lord clients consultation paper Criminal Justice System Crown Court defence develop diversity early efficiency ensure Family Help fee levels firms fixed and graduated funding Government Graduated Fee Scheme harmonised High Cost implementation Judicial Studies Board judiciary Law Society legal aid procurement Legal Aid Reform legal aid services legal aid system Legal Services Commission litigators Lord Carter recommended Lord Carter's Proposals LSC to issue LSC to publish majority of respondents management information system monitoring move Notes & Detail number of respondents October peer review police station practitioners recognise Recommendation DCA/LSC Notes Regulatory Impact Assessment remuneration representative bodies small number solicitors stakeholder arrangements standard fees sustainable Tailored Fixed Fee travel and waiting Unified Contract Vera Baird wider justice system