Appeal granted on criminal legal aid

February 27, 2015

Exchange Chambers has welcomed this morning’s news that the Court of Appeal has granted the Law Society and practitioner groups permission to appeal a High Court decision that dismissed challenges to the lord chancellor’s legal aid reforms.

A tender process for 527 duty provider contracts, which was suspended in December, remains. The appeal will be heard on 10 and 11 March.

Earlier this month the Society, Criminal Law Solicitors’ Association and London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association lost their High Court challenge against Chris Grayling’s decision to press ahead with two-tier contracts for criminal legal aid. Though he refused permission to appeal the decision, Lord Justice Laws allowed the Society and practitioner groups to try to take their fight to the Court of Appeal.

Tom Handley, Director of Chambers at Exchange Chambers said:

“We continue to actively support the Law Society, CLSA and LCCSA in their fight to preserve the principles of access to justice and equality before the law.”