Here is a covering letter penned to go with an APP 8 Please find enclosed our re-presented application for prior authority. We must apologise for this action however we are at an impasse on this matter. We accept that we have no mechanism for achieving a definitive outcome by way of appeal. We do however […]
So far this week has involved the strangest mix of jobs I can remember in a very long time. It is a nice change from monotonous arguments about Legal/Family Help (lower) costs however. I have been; “burnishing” a clients CV, writing a testimonial, participating in verbal negotiations, considered POCA bills and funding, thought about the […]
I missed this interesting piece from the Gazette website last week. The theme – maintain Rolls Royce standards against declining rates of pay – is one of which Legal Aid providers are well aware. In fact certain relevant and complicating factors, mandatory SQM, potential Peer Review and rigid Contract compliance only apply to firms undertaking […]
The “advice line” has been plagued by what could loosely be called operational problems over civil certificates and bills. The LSC line, which they are steadfastly holding to, is that the mistakes are largely generated from our side of the fence. This may be so, and we have no way of knowing, it has to […]
This is a webinar week. We will be looking at CDS costs this Friday especially enhancement of Non Standard Fee claims but also including issues on Category 2 fees. The basic idea is to run down all possible ways to make use of these very limited areas where you can enhance and/or improve your costs. […]
Paul Weller recently appeared on the Radcliffe and Maconie show on 6 Music. They ask all interviewees to bring a “show and tell” track and this was his. I tried to buy the album at HMV yesterday, apparently one of 4 the Guillemots intend to release this year. HMV’s answer – not in stock and […]
This has been a background issue all week at JRS, and talking to our clients it is a problem for you – especially on Family matters. I intend to collect my thoughts for something more substantive on Monday.
I am not going to do my annual rant about this now seemingly annual event. I will however make one short point; This is an inherent problem of standard fee schemes, launched with poor guidance and worse training, which are then assessed retrospectively. An active assessment process – even if only for a short burst […]
Would you like to try and wring the last few possible variable costs out of your CDS contract? If so this might help: 20th July Increase Your Criminal Bills A recent in-house costs course lifted the scales from the eyes of one CDS team. Since then, with a bit of encouragement, they have taken a […]
We do a tiny amount of reporting of Controlled Work. By contrast we look at many, many more Legal and Family Help (lower) files in the course of our appeal casework – by quite a high multiplication factor. Although these are very different tasks, ultimately they involve the interpretation of the same rules and guidance. […]