Our vision for legal aid reform is outlined in the "A fairer deal for legal aid" paper, which was laid in parliament on 5 July 2005. It sets out proposals that aim to guarantee continued fair and equal access to justice; improve outcomes for those who most need publicly funded legal services ensuring that the taxpayer gets value for money from those who provide legal services.
| 9 February 2006 |
Procurement of criminal defence services: market-based reform February 2006
Lord Carter published a report on the principles and approach to market based reform of criminal legal aid procurement on 9 February 2006. It is available on the legal aid procurement review website. A fully costed plan for criminal legal aid schemes and the design and costing of a new approach to civil legal aid will be available in the spring of 2006.
Lord Carter of Coles was asked to conduct an independent review to consider the means by which to deliver the Government's vision, set out in A Fairer Deal for Legal Aid, for procuring publicly funded legal services, particularly criminal defence services. This will be presented as a procurement system that achieves maximum value for money and control over spending whilst ensuring quality and the fairness of the justice system.
| 10 October 2005 |
Legal aid - remuneration for cracked trials and guilty pleas
Lord Falconer met the Bar Chair and Circuit Leaders, at their request, on Friday 30 September 2005. They asked him to consider representations about the impact of the changes to remuneration for cracked trials and guilty pleas which were to come into force on Monday 3 October. Lord Falconer agreed to do so, though (contrary to reports the department understands have been circulating among elements in the Bar) he made it clear that there should be no expectation that he would be willing to defer or alter the new remuneration arrangements. Officials would respond as soon as possible in the week beginning 3 October.
| 5 July 2005 |
"A fairer deal for legal aid": strategy paper
This paper outlines our long-term strategy for legal aid reform and was laid in parliament on 5 July 2005. It sets out proposals that aim to guarantee continued fair and equal access to justice; improve outcomes for those who most need publicly funded legal services ensuring that the taxpayer gets value for money from those who provide legal services.
You can download and print the paper in sections that are smaller file sizes.
You can download the full paper [PDF 641kb, 46 pages]. This is a large file that might take a long time to download.
A correction was made to this paper on 6 July 2005 [ PDF file 18kb, 1 page].
| 5 July 2005 |
Modernising legal aid procurement - your views
On 5 July an independent review began to look at new methods for procuring publicly funded legal aid services. The review is led by Lord Carter of Coles and will report in early 2006. The review would like to hear as many views as possible from those directly or indirectly affected. Lord Falconer asked Lord Carter to lead this review as part of his long-term strategy for legal aid reform.
For more information, see the legal aid procurement review website.