Time to take stock

It is easy to see how solicitors might feel overwhelmed by reformSpring is in the air and in keeping with the season of birth, the Lord Chancellors Department has trumpeted a raft of wide-ranging reforms for a legal profession already undergoing huge change.Changes taking effect from 1 April under the Access to Justice Act 1999 focus on areas such as crime, child welfare, probation, mental health and the magistrates courts.The most contentious arrival is the Criminal Defence Service.

The Law Society-led negotiators won an improved deal for specialists over criminal contracting, but it remains to be seen whether they will get a fair crack of the whip in practice.Meanwhile, the spotlight will shift to another contentious element of the CDS the public defenders scheme.

The evidence generated by the six pilot areas will doubtless fuel the arguments for and against the state directly prosecuting and defending those accused of crime.With the birth of the Child and Family Court Advisory & Support Service and the Public Guardianship Office plus developments in the execution of warrants against fine defaulters, the creation of the Greater London Magistrates Authority and changes to Court Service circuit boundaries it is easy to see how solicitors might feel overwhelmed by reform.Indeed, any new government regardless of its political hue would be well advised to sit back and evaluate the recent breakneck pace of change.

A period of considered reflection would perhaps not go amiss.