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Well there you go. For years Presidents, Deputy Presidents and the former Chief Executive have been telling the profession that in relation to "legal aid reform" the only option was to engage with the MoJ in the hope of influencing the decision-making so that the best result could be obtained. Any suggestion from members to the contrary was ridiculed.
In relation to this government and its reforms of legal aid the only option was to disengage and to campaign for access to justice. The approach taken by The Law Society in helping the MoJ reform legal aid has created this mess.
At least Andrew Caplen has tried to redress the situation-but too late.
When the past Presidents and the former Chief Executive are luxuriating in their high and mighty positions I hope they can spare a thought for the members of The Law Society that they have shafted.
The only way to end this nonsense is for no-one to bid for the duty contract.
By the way, the proposed Duty contract is unworkable and anyone foolish enough to bid for one is more likely to end up bankrupt than those who cannot bid. Every COFA will be forced to report the fact that a Duty contract has been awarded to the SRA because of the financial risk it creates. Every COLP is putting his/her practising certificate at risk by confirming compliance in the bid process. You have been warned.