Criminal defence solicitors have welcomed news that proposals imposing stringent restrictions on early advice have been relaxed, but have warned that other cuts will still cause chaos if they go ahead.

Lawyers will be allowed to do one hour of means tested advice and assistance in the proceedings class of work; this will begin at the same time as reductions to legal aid scope in the magistrates courts, on 17 May.

Criminal Defence Service (CDS) head Richard Collins explained this week that it would cover an hour's work where an application for a representation order is made and subsequently refused to 'protect suppliers from doing work in good faith and then being unable to claim for it'.

Helen Cousins, chairwoman of the Criminal Law Solicitors' Association (CLSA), said it was a way of limiting the impact of the other 'money-saving cuts'.

But she added: 'We are very worried about the severe disruption of the courts that will follow the dramatic reduction in the service offered by the duty solicitor scheme and the early preparatory work that solicitors will be allowed to undertake for their clients on legal aid after 17 May.'

The news emerged as the LSC launched a consultation on its CDS Direct project.

It recommends a pilot covering non-indictable crimes - such as petty theft and disturbing the peace - where clients would receive initial advice over the telephone once they were charged.

Meanwhile, CLSA director Rodney Warren has been appointed chairman of the Law Society's representation board.

He was previously chairman of the Society's access to justice committee and replaces Angus Andrew, now an LSC non-executive director.

Paula Rohan