Criminal defence solicitors in Cardiff last week staged the first of a monthly day of protest to highlight their complaints about the way legal aid has been cut back.

More than 40 firms took part in the protest on Friday - they continued to represent those in custody or on trial in the magistrates' courts, but did not represent anyone attending court for procedural matters or handle other legal aid matters.


Cardiff: 40 firms take part
Roy Morgan, former president of Cardiff Law Society and current chairman of the Legal Aid Practitioners Group (LAPG), said it was a 'quiet protest' that sought not to harm the public. He said it was aimed at making the Treasury understand the strength of feeling among solicitors about the effects of tightening of the legal aid budget.


He added: 'Legal aid solicitors in Cardiff acknowledge the work done by the Legal Services Commission and Department for Constitutional Affairs to use the legal aid budget more effectively.'


Mr Morgan said Cardiff solicitors were united behind the protests. He is talking to the Criminal Law Solicitors Association (CLSA) about possibly making them national.


CLSA director Rodney Warren expressed sympathy with the Cardiff lawyers, but said there were no plans to organise a national movement; however, it will be discussed at the CLSA's next national committee meeting. LAPG director Richard Miller was similarly non-committal.


Both men predicted that other groups of solicitors may look to take similar action, although Mr Warren acknowledged that historically, local protests have had little effect.


Richard Collins, executive director of policy and planning at the Legal Services Commission, said: 'The commission continues to work with the Law Society and other representative bodies to develop a sustainable legal aid scheme. As part of this, it will be seeking to meet with practitioners in Cardiff to understand their particular concerns.'


The government insists that this year's spending review has maintained legal aid spending in real terms. A Treasury spokeswoman said: 'The government's commitment to making legal aid more effective is demonstrated by the fundamental legal aid review (expected to report at the end of the year).'


See Editorial