Legal aid lawyers earning less on successful defences than would be allowed under the London Living Wage scheme
A recent case concerning the possession of indecent images of a child has highlighted how government reforms to legal aid are penalising successful defences.
Lawyers at London firm Bindmans, recently instructed by a defendant in a case involving an online relationship between two teenagers and indecent images, were paid less than the London Living Wage to successfully defend their client.
Following the breakdown of the relationship, the defendant was charged with possession of indecent images of a child - the girl was under 16 at the time some of the pictures were sent - despite her sending the images willingly.
Having plea...
