I agree with the article 'LSC tender unfair' [link]. It is wholly unfair for the Legal Services Commission to favour those firms that have a Children Panel member or an Advanced Family Panel member over those that simply have a Family Panel member.The notification concerning domestic violence was not flagged up by the LSC.

As a Family Panel member only, when I realised I would have to complete the Advanced Family Panel membership with domestic violence, despite contacting the Law Society before the tender deadline, I was told by the Law Society I had missed their own deadline by one day and would not be able to apply for the domestic violence module.

The Law Society firmly placed the blame for the tight deadline with the LSC, which had given it little notice of its preference for the domestic violence module.

Perhaps the LSC should have focused more on the actual experience of the solicitors at particular firms as opposed to what panel they are on. Having specialised in legal aid and private family law cases for the last seven years, including domestic violence cases, I may now be unsuccessful in receiving a franchise because I’m not on the correct panel.

What is the point of experience, I ask?

Jenny Sharma, J M Wilson Solicitors, West Bromwich