At the end of this post we indicated that we would be offering, in the long tradition of JRS, a briefing about the current proposals. We have now finalised dates which are as follows: Monday 27 Feb. Marriot Hotel, Gateshead Tuesday 28 Feb. Valley Parade, Bradford (yes the football ground) Wednesday 1 Mar. Britannia Hotel, […]
I ran out of time to post on Monday (and the story I teed up last week has yet to get final approval for publication) as my windscreen wipers packed up and I had a rush to get to Teesside International Airport (Durham Tees Valley in 21st Century language). Then with 6 hours of shouting […]
To me the key paradox remains; Carter’s proposals are described as market-based reforms and yet we already have a functioning market. There are some problems with it here and there and perhaps some (minor) areas where savings could be made. It is also, unless anyone can contradict me, the most regulated professional market in the […]
The Carter Review Report has been published. Under the headline “Market-based reforms to make criminal legal aid more efficient” it proposes: “Fixed pricing for all criminal legal aid work, including that provided in police stations, magistrates’ courts and Crown Courts; a managed market, awarding contracts to efficient and good quality suppliers that can take on […]
We had an interesting and important post lined up for today but we have to delay it at least 24 hours. Don’t miss it tomorrow.
A curious, though thoroughly satisfactory decision, on a CCA appeal reaches us today. Initially our written representations achieved a reduction to a Category 2 outcome from a Cat. 3 starting point. An agenda document containing only part of our representations followed which we subsequently challenged. These further representations concentrated upon the LSC seemingly substituting their […]
I have just had a phone conversation with a colleague who has also been involved in the circus which is Contract Compliance Appeals. Like me he is currently searching for the Holy Grail of this activity, a certified Point of Principle on general findings and extrapolation. With a mounting sense of deja vu on my […]
Those who have known me for some time (well from November 2003 at least) are aware that I have an Action Man style plastic neck. This has worked well for most of the last two years but occasionally gets a bit achy. Today is one of those days so only this short apologia for the […]
As ever the Gazette site is a day behind so if you want to see a picture of friend of this blog Rodney Warren you will have to tear open the plastic bag and go to page 3. Here he and others comment, in their usual diplomatic manner, upon the PDS Annual Report. This he […]
The Gazette lead with this story last week. Today news reaches us from a client in Manchester that the LSC have made a unilateral decision to cut the afternoon Duty Solicitor cover at Manchester Mags from 2 to 1. It is probably just coincidence that they follow in such short order. Or is it? Is […]