Winstanley-Burgess to shut as low legal aid rates and long hours take their toll

BUSINESS REVIEW: firm unable to fulfil commitments to pay for staff and suppliers

Leading London-based immigration specialist law firm Winstanley-Burgess announced this week that it is will shut down in September, blaming low legal aid rates for making its primary area of work unprofitable.

The firm - established in 1975 - was a leading light in civil liberties, human rights and administrative law, but eventually pared its work down mainly to cover asylum cases.

It made the decision to close 'with great reluctance' after two of its senior partners decided to retire, leaving the firm to re-evaluate its business plan.

'We have undertaken a detailed review of the prospects for the firm continuing to provide legally aided clients the quality of service it has previously given,' a spokesman explained.

'Legal aid rates have not risen in line with increased costs.

The long hours of work required to deal with increased administration and to generate the required income for staff and suppliers have become prohibitive.

In the light of these developments, we are unable to produce a viable plan for the firm.

With great regret, we have therefore taken the decision to close.'

The spokesman added that staff were currently considering their career options.

Winstanley-Burgess has five partners, three assistant solicitors, three caseworkers, two trainees and 11 support staff.

Meanwhile, the Appeal Court has decided against the home secretary in his appeal against a High Court ruling that the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 breached European human rights laws when applied to providing financial support for asylum seekers who had delayed their applications.

However, the appeal judges added that the provisions would fall back into line with a few procedural amendments that would make the system fairer.

The Act came into force in January.

See Editorial, (Gazette [2003] 20 March, page 14)

Paula Rohan