The Carter reforms will force almost half of London's criminal law firms to cut down or quit legal aid work, a poll has revealed.


A member survey carried out by the London Criminal Courts Solicitors Association (LCCSA) showed that 43% of the 235 who responded - a quarter of the membership - believed their criminal practices would cease publicly-funded work or reduce it in light of the government's proposals to reform the legal aid system. Some 9% of the group said they planned to give up legal aid work entirely.



Eleven per cent of respondents indicated their firms would shut down as a result of the new measures, while 7% said they would have to merge to survive.



Of the 28% of respondents whose firms practise social welfare law, 51% said they would reduce the amount of legal aid work carried out, with 15% giving it up altogether.



The overwhelming majority of respondents (97%) foresaw a negative impact on their businesses as a result of the changes, with 83% predicting a significant negative effect. No members anticipated a positive impact.



LCCSA president Greg Powell said: 'The shock of Carter and its unintended consequences will be greatest in London.' These consequences, he said, would be the acceleration of the loss of legal aid suppliers, particularly in social welfare law.



'London is a special case - it's the city of highest spend because it has the highest need due to the fast-moving population and areas of serious deprivation. In addition, at the upper end, it also has greatest amount of the more serious crimes,' said Mr Powell.



Derek Hill, director of the Criminal Defense Service, said it was premature to assess how different groups of providers will be affected by the overall reform scheme, as decisions have yet to be announced on police station reforms, litigators fees or best value tendering.



Mr Hill said: 'The intention of the proposed reforms is to create a more sustainable system for clients and providers alike. The likely result, if we did not go ahead with reform, would be a smaller legal aid system to the detriment of clients and the legal profession.'



Catherine Baksi