Specialists unite against signing crime contractThe Law Society this week held the line over criminal contracting and issued advice urging firms not to sign.Following a meeting with key practitioner groups, Law Society President Michael Napier said it was the 'unanimous view' of all the groups that they and their members were 'strongly opposed' to the current proposals.'Almost all those who have had the opportunity to assess the impact on their firm believed that their income would be reduced, not increased under the contract,' he said.He said 'urgent re-examination' of the Legal Services Commission's calculations would take place, but the Society's advice remains: 'Firms should not sign.'London Criminal Court Solicitors Association secretary Robert Brown said Continued from page 1that further legal advice over the fairness of the contract and its terms will also be sought.Criminal Law Solicitors Association negotiator Steve Wedd said: 'The gap between the Commission and the profession is so wide that it cannot be bridged unless the Commission does something to make the contract fair and workable and to persuade practitioners that it is worth signing.'A Commission spokeswoman said: 'The proposals for restructuring payments have been available to firms since November.

The overwhelming majority of firms must gain significantly from the new rates announced last week and we hope their voices will be heard' (see [2001] Gazette, 8 February, 1).