Decline of legal aid
The Gazette reports the latest Ministry of Justice figures reveal the continuing decline of legal aid. Law Society of England and Wales president I. Stephanie Boyce is quoted saying: "We are continuing to see the number of firms with criminal and civil legal aid contracts falling. This further illustrates what Sir Christopher Bellamy, chair of the independent review of criminal legal aid, described at the justice select committee as the "parlous state" of criminal defence solicitors.
"On the civil side, our heat maps have shown the growth of advice deserts. Investing in civil legal advice can nip problems in the bud and save significant expenditure in other public budgets.
"We would urge the Ministry of Justice to follow through on its commitment to address the sustainability of the civil legal aid system, as well as implementing the recommendations of Sir Christopher's review as soon as possible."
SIF closure in the spotlight
Today's Conveyancer carries a piece about the Solicitors Indemnity Fund (SIF) closure, signposting the Law Society's template response to the SRA consultation and urging solicitors to follow it.
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