Could the LSC be the next target of government cuts?
Tuesday 29 September 2009 by Catherine Baksi
During a meeting at the Labour Party conference, legal aid minister, Lord Bach, apparently refused to answer a question on the strategic future of the LSC.
A refusal that prompted one observer to comment: ‘That says it all’.
If the MoJ is simply going to announce policy changes over the heads of the LSC, as it did with the summer consultation on cuts to criminal legal aid rates, surely it diminishes the function of the LSC to a purely administrative one.
The consultation announced by the MoJ meant that the LSC, which is busily trying to work out its strategy for the introduction of best value tendering, had to postpone the tendering process for the new criminal contracts, as people could not reasonably be expected to apply for contracts without knowing the fee rates.
So if the LSC is only performing an administrative task, wouldn’t it be cheaper for the MoJ to hive off that function to some provider of business support services?
With the talk of public spending cuts, and economists advising the government to reduce its spending on the superfluous bodies it sponsors, the emasculated LSC looks like a prime candidate.
Comments
LSC
The LSC has overseen a period of catastrophic change and cuts, most of which are irreversible. If allowed to go forward, it will continue to get in the way and cause chaos. It makes policy on the hoof, and does not care what the consequences of its changes may be, or who in the professions will get wiped out.
The day it goes will be a day of celebration.
LSC
I wonder whether those disempowered clients who when seeking advice are forced to use 'Legal Help' will be celebrating? Or does this mean a return to those days when solicitors and trained caseworkers were able to properly assist clients. Instead we have the churning out of 'one off' advice the client is often unable to act upon. Does this mean the demise of those firms who have relied on poorly trained cut price caseworkers and trainees to make a profit instead of fighting for the right of their client's to receive full and proper legal advice. I do hope so. It would be enlightening for the client.