Lawyers from across the whole spectrum of the profession examine the ramifications of Lord Carter’s proposals
The tremors triggered by Lord Carter's review of legal aid were already rocking the high street well before he delivered his report last Thursday. The brief – to bring legal aid costs under control – was known to all, and most in legal circles agreed that public funding could not go on increasing indefinitely without greater accountability and efficiency. But what sort of reform would allow the system to continue to deliver the same or even better value at lower cost? Many fear that a market-based approach will spell the end of smaller firms serving the local community; that peer review will not provide an adequate measure of quality; that the only way of achieving efficiencies will be to cut corners; and that success will be assessed ...
