Kept Waiting

It is no wonder that firms are shunning legal aid work (see [2002] Gazette, 10 January, 1).

We stopped taking on legal aid matters some 18 to 24 months ago because of the poor rates of pay and the bureaucracy.

I have recently finished the last legal aid matter we had (matrimonial) and after assessment by the court lodged my bill with the Legal Services Commission for payment on 9 November 2001.

Not only do I have to accept rates of pay that are not far off one-quarter of my normal hourly rate, but after waiting for my telephone call to be answered by a human being for more than 10 minutes, I was told that the commission (Cambridge area) was dealing with court assessed costs submitted on 5 November 2001 - and as a result my bill was yet to be dealt with.

I was told that if all is in order (and there is no guarantee that it will be) I should be paid at the end of this month.

Therefore, at best I have to wait three months to be paid, with no disrespect to them, less than a plumber's hourly rate.

Thank goodness we practise in a reasonably affluent area and are not dependent on legal aid work.

My heart goes out to those of the profession who are not in this position.

Andrew Dutton, Swatton Hughes & Co, Tring, Hertfordshire