Practice
Temporary measures to end the stalemate over very high cost cases (VHCCs) have been announced by the Lord Chancellor Jack Straw.
The goverment hopes the initiative will encourage barristers to take on VHCCs —only 110 barristers and two QCs signed a new contract issued earlier this year, claiming that it did not offer adequate reward for the complex work involved.
The interim measures increase all rates by the same percentage and a QC or senior solicitor engaged in complex cases will now be paid £152.50 an hour—an increase of £7.50 per hour.
Although the changes were welcomed by Bar Council chairman Tim Dutton QC, he said the Bar was against the continuing use of hourly rates of pay in these cases because they “reward the least efficient and are inflammatory”.
“The interim scheme does not favour barristers over solicitors. It is a temporary adjustment, and treats both in the same way,” he added.
The Criminal Law Solicitors Association (CLSA) says that the announcement will not please everyone.
Joy Merriam, CLSA chairman, says: “There will now be fewer advocates involved in these cases and those who no longer get the work are unlikely to be grateful for a small rise in the hourly rate for their colleagues. The lesson for us all is clear—strikes work.”
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