Criminal Legal Aid – We need everyone to respond to this major consultation even if you are not a criminal defence solicitor

Following the Independent Review into Criminal Legal Aid by Sir Christopher Bellamy the conclusions supported what Criminal Defence Solicitors had been saying for years - that the justice system and legal aid funding was in crisis . It is no understatement to say that the Criminal Justice System is on the point of collapse .

Sir Christopher responded in strong terms in reccomending that urgent action needed to be taken and reccomended a 15% minimum increase with immediate effect .

The Ministry of Justice and has in part agreed to the 15% restoration but has restructured it in a way in which means in real terms the increase is only 9% and for Crown Court litigators closer to 4% . The Law Society has made clear this is unsustianable and questions whether Criminal Defence Practitioners can continue on that basis .

The Government needs the strongest message that this cannot continue and we are asking all solicitors and lawyers to respond to the consultation .

You do not need to be a criminal defence lawyer to respond ( after all there aren't that many of us left ! ) and the Law Society has put together some notes an an easy platform to help you respond - Please follow this link

https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/topics/legal-aid/responding-to-the-criminal-legal-aid-consultation

PLEASE HELP THOSE WHO NEED JUSTICE AND YOUR FELLOW LAWYERS WHO HAVE DEDICATED THEIR CAREERS TO THIS WORK BY ADDING YOUR VOICE TO THE CONSULTATION