Some 90% of family lawyers think the legal aid tender result will lead to widespread redundancies across the profession, according to a survey of Resolution members.

The poll also showed that 86% of respondents whose firms were unsuccessful in the tender have appealed.

The survey of 561 Resolution members found that 40% of firms were wholly unsuccessful in their bids, and 15% were partially successful. Resolution said data from firms indicated that 542 redundancies were expected in total from these firms.

The Legal Services Commission has until 3 September to process appeals, with the new contracts due to start on 14 October.

Resolution chair David Allison said: ‘There are signs already of movement in the market, with mergers, acquisitions and movement of staff, but it remains to be seen whether the market can fully adjust quickly enough.

‘While we knew that competitive tendering was coming, delays in the award of contracts has left firms little time to open new offices, make people redundant or plan recruitments.’

He added: ‘We have written to the minister and the LSC and are calling on them to immediately and publicly set out the steps they will take and the practical measures they will introduce to meet any emerging access to justice issues.’