header-logo header-logo

Out of order

03 May 2018 / Steve Hynes
Issue: 7791 / Categories: Opinion , Legal aid focus , Legal services , Profession
printer mail-detail
nlj_7791_hynes

Steve Hynes takes time out to explain the complexities of the tendering process for legal advice telephone services

It appears that the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) is having problems finding enough firms willing to take on civil legal aid work. It has been forced to re-advertise a number of tenders recently, including the telephone service in discrimination law. There is a suspicion that it is trying to fix the process for this as it is not prepared to pay the market price for it.

Ring the changes

As part of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) changes, the government introduced a telephone service for some areas of law. Members of the public wanting advice on debt, discrimination, and education cases under the legal aid scheme have to use the service. It is a bureaucratic process, as getting help requires people to first contact an operator who carries out a means, merits and scope test to determine if they qualify for legal aid. If they do, they are then

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
back-to-top-scroll