2010 bid concerns

Legal Services Commission (LSC) plans to create a more “integrated” civil legal aid service could result in less choice for consumers, practitioners are warning.

The LSC wants to increase the number of firms offering a range of civil legal aid services so that fewer clients are referred back and forth between suppliers. Its plans are set out in its consultation on the new procurement model for the civil legal aid contract, Civil Bid Round for 2010 Contracts. However, practitioners say supply shortages could occur as a result.

David Emmerson, chair of Resolution’s legal aid committee, said: “We agree broadly with the basis of the Commission’s proposals on both holistic services and family firms undertaking a range of work. However, the Commission needs to be sure that in areas where there is insufficient supply that their requirements are sufficiently flexible to ensure quality suppliers can successfully bid.”

Richard Miller, head of the Law Society’s Legal Aid team, says: “While we understand the potential benefits to clients of providing a higher level of ‘integrated services’, the reality is that the proposals are likely to do more harm than good.”