The message for legal aid firms in the Lord Chancellor's white paper is loud and clear; get franchised or lose out.The white paper sketches out a future of pre-determined budgets, and block contracting is seen as one of the major levers of budgetary control.When block contracting was first mooted in the green paper, the legal profession made its opposition to the idea very clear, arguing that it would lead to conflict between lawyers' financial interests and those of their clients.

There were also concerns about dutch auctions of legal services.Undaunted, the Lord Chancellor's Department has carried the idea forward and the white paper expresses confidence that the most recent proposals address lawyers' concerns.

It is pointed out, for example, that the Legal Aid Board would ensure that its requirements regarding choice, quality and access would be met before price was considered.

And, in a bid to ease lawyers' fears about economic security, it is stressed that the board would be interested in developing long-term relationships with providers.Over the next few months the Law Society, the Legal Aid Practitioners Group and other representative groups will do battle with the LCD over the white paper's details.

It is unlikely that these bodies will share the LCD's confidence that block contracting is now a risk-free zone and so some of the old concerns will be raised and debated afresh.But only the most cock-eyed optimist could think that the block contracting idea will be shelved.

The LCD is so determined that block contracting should work that it has already started the selling process.A glossy (by comparison with previous LCD documents) publicity pack published this week includes a leaflet aimed at 'service providers'.

It extols the benefits of block contracting, talking of 'a guaranteed flow of business and income', 'more freedom and choice' in how you provide help, and 'rewards' for working 'effectively and efficiently'.Firms will have to look behind the hype and decide what to do.

To be in with a chance in the block-contracting game, a legal aid franchise will be necessary.

And so far only 13% of the 10,500 legal aid offices have achieved franchises.With the real prospect of early legislation, time is in short supply.

However, one bit of good news for firms panicked by the prospect of being left out is a pledge by the LCD to m ove slowly.

There will be no 'big bang', officials promised this week: 'We will want to talk to the service providers and move carefully,' one insisted.