Criminal law solicitors say Chris Grayling’s legal aid climbdown doesn’t go far enough
A PARTIAL climbdown by Justice Secretary Chris Grayling over legal aid changes has done little to quell fears for the future of Merseyside’s criminal law firms.
Mr Grayling’s controversial plans to introduce a process of competitive tendering for legal aid work have been widely criticised by Merseyside’s legal profession.
The changes would see just 14 contracts awarded among the 46 firms currently carrying out public-funded work in the region.
They could also open the door to non-specialist companies who it is feared could undercut some of Merseyside’s best-known high street firms.
Yesterday Mr Grayling faced MPs on the parliamentary justice select committee and defended the plans.
Claiming the country had “no shortage” of lawyers, he indicated a second round of consultation would be launched later in the year.
Mr Grayling has also indicated one aspect of the changes, denying clients the chance to choose who represents them, could be scrapped.
Zoe Gascoyne, a partner at city centre-based Cobleys Solicitors Ltd, welcomed the apparent change of heart in this area.
She added: “It is clear that at least some of the opposition has got through to the justice secretary.
“It is also welcome news that there will be a second consultation.
“Now we need to keep up the pressure because there is a huge amount more to be done.”
Last month hundreds of solicitors and barristers held a demonstration against the plans outside Liverpool crown court.
Leading figures including the leader of the Northern Circuit of barristers, Rick Pratt QC, gave their support to the campaign, while a petition calling for a rethink has attracted more than 100,000 signatures.
Mr Grayling said he believed there were too many firms fighting over too little work across the country.
Ms Gascoyne said: “That is only a small part of the picture.
“In London they might have a problem with lots of firms setting up, but that is not the case across the country.”
Experts believe thousands of jobs could be placed at risk among people working at all levels of the criminal law in Merseyside.
Ms Gascoyne said: “It’s very far from just affecting lawyers.
“You are looking at all the administration and support staff, claims admin and costs teams - it is a big network of people who work hard and do a good job.”
At the committee meeting, Mr Grayling denied claims some solicitors could be tempted to advise clients to plead guilty as they would be paid the same for a short hearing as for a long, contested trial.
Ms Gascoyne said she did not believe Merseyside firms would go down this route, but that the system could lead clients to question the advice they received and refuse to plead guilty.
She said: “This would ultimately cost the courts more in money and time.”
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