Law Society continues to fight legal aid cuts

The Law Society met with the Lord Chancellor last week in another bid to influence the government’s decision in relation to its planned legal aid cuts.

In the hour-long meeting on 11 February, Grayling met with representatives from local law societies, the Law Solicitors' Association, BAME groups, the London Criminal Courts Solicitors' Association, the Legal Aid Practitioners Group and others. The main concerns raised were to do with the difficulties associated with legal aid firms being able to (i) secure finance and reorganise their businesses as per the new models, and (ii) absorb the fee cuts.

Law Society President Nicholas Fluck said: "The Law Society is against the proposed cuts. This meeting provided an opportunity for our members to voice their concerns directly with the government."

The society is also consulting its members ahead of what it believes "is an imminent announcement by the government on the second consultation on criminal legal aid". Member responses will inform the society’s final submission to the consultation. Law Society Chief Executive Desmond Hudson said: "We have consistently opposed cuts to fees, which risk the livelihoods of committed criminal law solicitors who are at the heart of the criminal justice system, defending and upholding the rule of law."

There is also a further day of strikes opposing the cuts on 7 March by barristers and solicitors.