Caroline Little claims that membership of the Law Society Children Panel is in jeopardy owing to proposed family legal aid reforms (see [2009] Gazette, 25 June, 9).

The Legal Services Commission takes its responsibility for access very seriously. There are over 2,600 solicitor firms that hold contracts with the LSC and the number of acts of assistance in 2008/09 increased to 277,251 from 235,561 the previous year.

Following the recent consultation on family fees and funding from 2010, the LSC has been working with family stakeholders to develop a graduated fee scheme that would better reflect complexity.

The LSC also commissioned Ernst & Young to undertake research, alongside the consultation process, to inform the final proposals and their impact – specifically the likely impact on client access. The LSC has also been working with the Bar Council and all representative bodies to resolve any issues regarding the quality and accuracy of the data used to calculate the fee schemes.

Feedback from all stakeholders, including the Association of Lawyers for Children, has been carefully considered and used to shape the final proposals. The LSC is confident that experienced and expert solicitors will continue to work under the new schemes and that the fees will reward the practitioners who continue to work in this most important area.

Carolyn Regan, chief executive of the Legal Services Commission