*/
Senior civil servant Sir Ian Magee is to lead a review into proposals to separate the Criminal Defence Service (“CDS”) and Community Legal Service (“CLS”), as part of a review to ensure that the £2.1 billion currently spent on legal aid every year is “delivering best value for money”.
He will explore the available options for separation, including ring fencing both CDS and CLS budgets, look at ways to manage the finances of both funds, and identify appropriate delivery models for both the CDS and CLS and their relationship with the MoJ.
Sir Ian, who is due to report back in January 2010, said: “Naturally, I will be consulting a range of interested parties, including the judiciary, the legal profession and the relevant public bodies who play a part in the delivery of legal aid.”
Legal aid minister Lord Bach has previously called for the civil and criminal legal aid budget to be “rebalanced” in favour of civil legal aid. He said: “It is 10 years since the Legal Services Commission was established and in that time there has been considerable changes in the type of legal advice and services that the public needs.
“I believe now is the right time to review the channels through which legal aid is delivered to ensure that we are getting the best value for taxpayers’ money. It’s also a good time re-examine the best ways to deliver this vital service to ensure a healthy future for legal aid.”
Legal aid minister Lord Bach has previously called for the civil and criminal legal aid budget to be “rebalanced” in favour of civil legal aid. He said: “It is 10 years since the Legal Services Commission was established and in that time there has been considerable changes in the type of legal advice and services that the public needs.
“I believe now is the right time to review the channels through which legal aid is delivered to ensure that we are getting the best value for taxpayers’ money. It’s also a good time re-examine the best ways to deliver this vital service to ensure a healthy future for legal aid.”
Senior civil servant Sir Ian Magee is to lead a review into proposals to separate the Criminal Defence Service (“CDS”) and Community Legal Service (“CLS”), as part of a review to ensure that the £2.1 billion currently spent on legal aid every year is “delivering best value for money”.
He will explore the available options for separation, including ring fencing both CDS and CLS budgets, look at ways to manage the finances of both funds, and identify appropriate delivery models for both the CDS and CLS and their relationship with the MoJ.
Sir Ian, who is due to report back in January 2010, said: “Naturally, I will be consulting a range of interested parties, including the judiciary, the legal profession and the relevant public bodies who play a part in the delivery of legal aid.”
The Chair of the Bar sets out how the new government can restore the justice system
In the first of a new series, Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth considers the fundamental need for financial protection
Unlocking your aged debt to fund your tax in one easy step. By Philip N Bristow
Possibly, but many barristers are glad he did…
Mental health charity Mind BWW has received a £500 donation from drug, alcohol and DNA testing laboratory, AlphaBiolabs as part of its Giving Back campaign
The Institute of Neurotechnology & Law is thrilled to announce its inaugural essay competition
How to navigate open source evidence in an era of deepfakes. By Professor Yvonne McDermott Rees and Professor Alexa Koenig
Brie Stevens-Hoare KC and Lyndsey de Mestre KC take a look at the difficulties women encounter during the menopause, and offer some practical tips for individuals and chambers to make things easier
Sir Geoffrey Vos, Master of the Rolls and Head of Civil Justice since January 2021, is well known for his passion for access to justice and all things digital. Perhaps less widely known is the driven personality and wanderlust that lies behind this, as Anthony Inglese CB discovers
The Chair of the Bar sets out how the new government can restore the justice system
No-one should have to live in sub-standard accommodation, says Antony Hodari Solicitors. We are tackling the problem of bad housing with a two-pronged approach and act on behalf of tenants in both the civil and criminal courts