Barristers and Ministry of Justice agree truce over complex fraud trials

An interim deal has been agreed between the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and barristers over a fee dispute, which had disrupted complex fraud trials.

As reported by the Law Society Gazette, the fixed fees for advocates will be determined on a case-by-case basis for very high cost cases (VHCCs). The agreement currently only covers the seven VHCCs currently listed for trial. Barristers had refused to handle the cases at the reduced rates previously offered, which led to the collapse of a land bank fraud trial. In addition, the MoJ has promised to halt recruitment for its Public Defenders Service.

Nigel Lithman QC, chairman of the Criminal Bar Association, commented: "The government has pulled back from the brink of destroying something very precious. A legal aid system alongside of national health and state education is the third limb of a civilised society." A representative for the Law Society added: "The Society has consistently argued that the level of fee reductions proposed across the full range of criminal legal aid work is unsustainable. We will continue to raise our concerns directly with the Ministry of Justice and continue to participate in discussions around the future of criminal advocacy."