Public Interest Lawyers (PIL), whose legal aid contracts were pulled by the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) on 2 August, is likely to close its offices at the end of the month.
LAA terminated the contract after a “thorough review of information provided by PIL” in relation to claims against the Ministry of Defence on behalf of Iraqi nationals. This followed an investigation by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) into the firm.
In a statement the LAA said it was clear that “contractual breaches” with LAA’s contract were proven and warranted investigation by the relevant authorities. The SRA has asked the Solicitors’ Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) to consider allegations against the firm.
Steve Hynes, director of Legal Action Group (LAG) says: “We would have preferred the SDT hearing to be held in public as justice should be seen to be done, but appreciate that there might be good reasons, such as client confidentiality, for it not to be.”
Hynes adds that the void left by the lack of hard facts in this matter has been filled with speculation and “a good few of assumptions being jumped to by some sections of the media”.
“The journalists and others rushing to condemn Phil Shiner and his firm, would be best advised to remain silent and let the disciplinary hearing run its course,” he says.
