Lawyers have given a cautious welcome to news the Government will give a further £51m for the struggling legal aid sector.
The Lord Chancellor, Robert Buckland said last week the funds would go towards criminal advocates and solicitors, recognising the long hours spent preparing cases, including reviewing digital evidence.
The money will fund:
- new payments for reviewing unused material;
- additional payments, on an hourly rate, for advocates where there are exceptionally high volumes of prosecution evidence;
- increased payments for preparation of cases that fall when a plea is given in the first hearing; and
- new payments for solicitors for their work ahead of sending cases to the Crown Court.
Martin Rackstraw comments in New Law Journal on the proposed funds and their likely insignificant impact on the criminal law sector.
£51m rescue package for criminal lawyers is free to read on the New Law Journal website.
Martin is a partner in the fraud and criminal litigation team. He has been defending in serious and high profile cases for well over 20 years. He is ranked in both Chambers UK and The Legal 500 for both general crime and extradition and financial crime.