A government procurement for work in the new legal aid category of inquests has attracted successful bids from 53 firms, the Legal Aid Agency has revealed. The Law Society welcomed the number of applications but expressed concern about the amount of work firms will shoulder due to an anticipated surge in legally aided inquests.
The Public Office (Accountability) Bill, to be known as ‘Hillsborough law’, will provide bereaved families with non-means tested help and support for inquests, and is expected to increase the number of legally aided inquests a year from 200-400 to as much as 11,400.
The Legal Aid Agency revealed last week that, 55 firms submitted bids in the first procurement round – 53 successfully passed the assessment and are now going through the verification process. The LAA is now assessing applications from the second procurement round. The 2024 civil contract has been changed to give firms the opportunity to apply regularly rather than being restricted to a single application window.
Society president Brett Dixon was encouraged to see 53 firms pass the LAA’s initial assessment, which he described as a ‘welcome first step.
However, he added, ‘to meet the projected demand these firms would have to shoulder the equivalent of an entire year’s current caseload each. The UK government still has the opportunity to ensure adequate capacity through strategic investment into a well-staffed, well-trained sector with sustainable fee rates. Without it, families seeking justice risk being left without the legal representation they need, with devastating consequences’.
A grieving father who did not have legal representation told the House of Common justice committee last week that he did not receive an important court bundle until the evening before his son’s inquest.
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