'Big Friendly Giant' firms back direct action over legal aid cuts

The Big Firms Group (BFG), an alliance of large criminal practice law firms, has pledged to support individual direct action aimed at stopping the controversial legal aid fee cut to solicitors.

The news will come as a surprise to some legal practitioners as certain high-profile members of the BFG, which consists of just 36 firms each with a criminal legal aid turnover of over £1.5m, have previously been in favour of a reduction in the number of firms providing legal aid work.

Anthony Edwards, senior partner at London-based TV Edwards and member of the BFG, told The Times in December 2013 that smaller criminal law firms were 'headstrong' and had stuck 'their heads in the sand' over the cuts. He added that the market should consolidate down from 1,600 providers to just 200.

However, Edwards' views appeared to mellow during an interview with the Guardian in October 2014, in which he admitted his firm had lost one-third of its staff due to the first 8.75 per cent cut imposed by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).

Frank Sinclair, senior partner at Manchester and London-based Tuckers Solicitors, who is the founding member of the BFG, confirmed yesterday that the group's committee would support direct action in opposition to the cuts.

Today at BFG mtg we all expressed the view that we would individually support direct action in opposition to the second 8.75 % cut

— Franklin Sinclair (@FMStuckers) June 25, 2015

In an exclusive SJ article earlier this week, Tuckers' practice manager Adam Makepeace explained why the firm planned to abandon the traditional Bar by instructing independent advocates outside the chambers model.

The news came following the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) announced it would not be calling for barristers to join in direct action against government cuts.

Bill Waddington, chair of the Criminal Law Solicitors' Association (CLSA), welcomed the BFG's support for direct action, and added that it sends out the 'strongest signal' that the legal profession has had enough of government policy.

'Legal aid solicitors are clearly recognised by the judiciary as at the heart of the proposed efficiency reforms,' said Waddington. 'Mouthing platitudes about inequality in the law and Magna Carta has absolutely no credibility while the [MoJ] is undermining a chance for level-headed reform.

'All over the country solicitors are joining forces with local barristers to fight for justice. We ask the government and the new Lord Chancellor to halt the cuts, stop churning out bogus statistics and engage in meaningful discussions.'

Waddington continued that the government's policy would make access to justice the preserve of the wealthy and that 'their bone-headed policies are unworkable for all firms regardless of size'.