I was pleased to read the comments of Mr Justice Collins, in connection with the ‘irrational’ approach of the Legal Services Commission regarding the social welfare law tender process. Unhappily, this is consistent with the experiences of my own firm.

Our clients are primarily those with brain and/or spinal injury and whose entitlement to welfare benefits is often not straightforward; for example those with subtle but still pronounced disability. We have operated well a welfare benefits contract at category 1 level and, in 2007, our head of department’s work attained the 1, ‘excellence’ rating on peer review. The holistic nature of the service was highly commended and extracts from the report on his work were used in the LSC ‘Improving your quality’ roadshow materials.

However, my firm will now be excluded from publicly funded social welfare law work because of the LSC’s plans. Local law centres are also likely to be excluded. This seems odd and is hard to reconcile with previous assurances from Carolyn Regan and others within the LSC about the priority to be given to ‘high quality’ services. Other commentators have also raised the likely reduction of access to justice. This is particularly apposite for our clients.

As a consequence we will now provide our clients with welfare benefit advice on a pro bono basis. I can only hope the LSC does not take the credit for our so doing.

Hugh Potter, Potter Rees, Manchester