CONSULTATION: scheme to be reformed with revised scope


The Legal Services Commission (LSC) announced a reprieve for its specialist support service this week, launching a consultation on continuing a reformed scheme for three years.



Under the proposals, the service - which provides back-up support for legal aid solicitors from expert lawyers - would be maintained with revised terms and scope, and greater performance-management to tackle low use of certain services.



Training should be removed from its scope and specialist cases immediately transferred to specialist providers, the LSC proposed.



The commission also announced that Community Legal Service grants, used to support development of the service, will rise to £1 million a year - a 9% increase.



The LSC had planned to ditch the service last year in a bid to free up £2.3 million, but delayed the decision after various not-for-profit groups threatened legal action due to lack of consultation.



Carolyn Regan, LSC chief executive, said: 'Supplier support services must help as many people as possible and target groups that otherwise might not have access to justice.'



Roy Morgan, chairman of the Legal Aid Practitioners Group, said he was delighted the LSC had proposed to continue such a crucial service, without which many frontline advisors would be unable to provide a service.



Law Society Vice-President Andrew Holroyd said the Society had been opposed to the removal of the service. 'The original decision was not thought through and was the opposite of what was needed; long-term, sustainable solutions to improve the legal aid system and strengthen social justice,' he said.



Catherine Baksi