Miscarriages lawyers unite in call for reform

Lawyers involved in miscarriages of justice work have united to campaign for reform of the criminal appeal system.The Criminal Appeal Lawyers Association (CALA) has just been launched as a forum and campaign group for lawyers who believe the system is failing the public.'It became clear at public meetings on the subject last June that a number of lawyers felt the criminal Court of Appeal was slow and not good enough,' said Jane Hickman, a partner at London firm Hickman & Rose and the association's secretary.'As a result we decided to form a party for like-minded people where they could air their grievances and discuss policy issues.'Around 20 key firms that work on miscarriages of justice attended the meeting, and members include London firms Birnberg Pierce and Taylor Nichol, AS Law in Liverpool and Glaisyers of Birmingham.Campbell Malone, a partner at Bolton-based Stephensons, is the association's first chairman.Ms Hickman said one of the most important issues for the association to address is the shortage of suitable appeal lawyers.She said: 'The remuneration from the legal advice and assistance scheme for appeal work is less than half what the original lawyer in the case would get.

There is a fundamental problem with the structure.'There is a desperate shortage of lawyers in this area, yet it is not the kind of work to be dabbled lightly in, as it represents a last chance for people.'CALA is planning a conference later this year and will run training courses for budding appeal lawyers.

'Our long-term aim is to tweak the criminal justice system to cut out the current delays in appeal hearings,' Ms Hickman said.

'We shouldn't be locking up innocent people for 25 years.'Andrew Towler