I had a conversation with a client firm yesterday regarding their Family contract. They were looking to replace a retiring supervisor and could not remember the 2013 Contract requirements.
This version of civil contract included, for the first time, the need for each organization to have at least 1 full time equivalent supervisor per category. This is even defined as full time meaning 7 hours a day 5 days a week. So I reminded them of this and provided the reference, General Specification 2.10 (a). Not that they disbelieved me.
Post LASPO scope and demand mean that they could probably just about afford to employ a 2 days a week supervisor and keep the department afloat – or the Legal Aid element of it at least.
Needless to say this economic reality means that another family access point will close with, presumably, more to follow.
It is unclear if this was a deliberate or and unintended consequence – either way all that time, effort and money spent ensuring equal and adequate access to justice is speedily being trashed.
