The civil legal aid contract is to be extended by a month after the Law Society launched judicial review proceedings over the family legal aid tender.
The extension, to 14 November, will ensure there is sufficient time for the Law Society and the Legal Services Commission (LSC) to work through the judicial review process.
The LSC confirmed this week that the new contracts will start on 15 November, and that current contract holders will receive an extra twelfth of their new matter start allocation.
Hugh Barrett, executive director of the LSC, says the LSC are committed to completing this round of tenders: “We are doing everything possible to resolve matters to secure quality services for our clients.”
The recent bidding round cut the number of firms contracted to provide family legal aid work from 2,400 to 1,300. Lawyers have warned of a shortfall in coverage in some parts of the country, including Wales, the south-west, north-east and Leeds. Clients seeking help for issues relating to child protection, forced marriage and domestic abuse will be particularly affected.
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