Law Society applies to High Court for permission to challenge government over legal aid

The Law Society announced on 1 March that is has applied to the High Court for permission to challenge the UK government’s implementation of recommendations to reform the criminal legal aid sector. The legal action follows recommendations put forward in an independent review, which requested an immediate 15 per cent fee increase as a minimum first step in addressing the concerns about the collapse of the system of criminal legal aid due to underfunding. Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “We believe UK government’s decision not to increase criminal defence solicitors’ legal aid rates by the recommended minimum 15% is both unlawful and irrational.”