My colleagues and I were interested to read the story 'Society plans costs-capping challenge’ (see [2009] Gazette, 17 December, 1).

In particular, we note the mention in this report that a Ministry of Justice spokesman said that lawyers are able to ‘provide a "reasonable" though not "premium" service at legal aid rates’.

Can someone at the MoJ please clarify for those of us who still do legal aid work exactly what aspects of the ‘premium’ service we currently strive to provide to all clients, regardless of means, can now be dispensed with?

Since the MoJ has finally accepted the economic reality that we can only provide a ‘reasonable’ service to those on legal aid, it would clearly be helpful to know. We can then outline our service standards for the different types of client at the outset of a matter, in order to ensure there is no misunderstanding later on, which might otherwise develop into a costly and time-consuming complaint for both the firm and perhaps the Legal Complaints Service/Office for Legal Complaints.

Presumably the MoJ is now working with the Legal Services Commission on this issue. I await the formal publication of the new ‘two-tier’ service standards with interest.

Stephanie Walmsley, Partner, Family Law Consultancy, Norwich