The Ministry of Justice has published details of the law firms and other external groups it held meetings with in the last quarter of 2009, as part of a new policy of greater transparency.

The document reveals that lord chancellor Jack Straw met nine large legal aid firms ‘to discuss legal aid’ in December last year.

The firms listed are Burton Copeland; Olliers; Maidments; TV Edwards; the Johnson Partnership; Forbes; Switalskis; Kaim Todner; and Tuckers.

Straw also met national firm DLA Piper in October to discuss pro bono work in the legal profession, the record shows.

Legal aid minister Lord Bach met groups including the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers; family law group Resolution; Young Legal Aid Lawyers; Justice; and the Law Society and Bar Council to discuss legal aid.

Justice minister Bridget Prentice met consumer group Which? in November to talk about legal services reform, claims management, collective redress and illegal file sharing. She met the Law Society in December in relation to legal services policy and the transition to the Office for Legal Complaints. Solicitors Regulation Authority chair Charles Plant met the minister in December.