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Successive governments have incrementally inculated their MOJ minnions with a culture that has indiscernibly morphed into one of fundamental dishonesty when it comes to proper remuneration of criminal lawyers. Of course this is most widely felt through the LAA in publicly funded work where every fallacious expedient is used to either with hold or deny payment for work properly undertaken. A particular example is the reduction of the time limit for submitting claims after completion of a case from six months to three months. In terms of the investigation stage this can create problems where clients are bailed and rebailed numerous times and the client does not keep in contact and some police (but not all) officers make it an occupation to not answer enquiries. In such circumstances it is very easy to see how such files may be submitted late.

Like all well trained English lawyers versed in Benthamite acuity the commentators here do not care to look beyond the specious hotpotch of varied rules that now conspire unjustly to prevent payment for work fairly carried out. Many private successful clients in criminal trials not only are unable to recover the proper fees for professional representation, but even then find that totally arbitrarily concocted requirements often prevent anything at all being recouped from central government funds even where a recovery of costs order has been made by the court.

When good men are put to the sword you know it is the institutions that have fallen way below the proper standards not those trying to provide a professional service and survive financially.