Solicitors in Scotland succeeded in obtaining an offer of a 12% rise in legal aid rates from the justice ministry last week, following the threat of strike action. Lawyers had complained that the rates for preparing for trial - £45 per hour - had not risen since 1992. Under the offer, payment for court work will rise by 8%, while fees for other work will be increased by 12%, backdated to December 2005. The offer - which is an interim measure until a new fee structure is introduced in April 2007 - is now being considered by the profession. While strike action was not endorsed by the Law Society of Scotland, more than 20 Scottish law associations, or 'faculties', had backed the action.