Inferiority complex

I am writing to express my concern and surprise at the content of the Consumer Association Report referred to in your recent article (See [2000] Gazette, 18 May, 1).The article states that the report 'looked in depth at the experiences of 80 disadvantaged clients seeking legally aided service and found, by comparison to local and specialist community advice and law centres, solicitors 'fared badly'.

Clearly 80 clients is hardly representative of the many thousands of legally aided clients receiving legal advice.I have noted the related comments made in the Gazette editorial of the same edition and I agree with the remarks concerning the conditions and legal aid rates.

If it is the view of the Lord Chancellor that legal aid practitioners do not care for their legally aided clients, then perhaps Lord Irvine could explain why a legal aid solicitor is prepared to act for a legally aided client for less than 50 per hour.If it be that the 80 interviewees were dissatisfied with the advice and assistance given, then clearly this would be reflected in the number of negligence actions against legal aid solicitors, which is not the case.It has to be right that all solicitors who expend public monies have to be accountable to the public in the use of those monies.

However, I strongly object to the implication stated in the Consumer Report that legally aided clients are given an inferior service.

This is simply not true.It is about time that legal aid practitioners and the legal profession as a whole was given the respect that it deserves.Anthony King, Anthony King & Co., Basildon