'It remains to be seen whether the investment will be enough to halt the exodus from criminal defence work' – Law Society president
The government has published its response to Sir Christopher Bellamy QC’s Independent Review of Criminal Legal Aid and launched a consultation on proposed changes to the system. The Ministry of Justice has announced an extra £135m will be spent on the legal aid sector every year to match the recommendation made by the independent review.
The investment will mean criminal legal aid lawyers will receive their biggest pay boost in a decade under wide-ranging reforms proposed by the government.
Deputy prime minister, lord chancellor and justice secretary, Dominic Raab, said: “We owe our whole legal profession – solicitors, barristers, court staff and judiciary – a debt of gratitude for keeping t...
