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| Lawyers protest over aid reforms | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Lawyers are demonstrating outside Parliament against reforms to the legal aid system. | |
| They say new plans to pay per case will drive solicitors away and deprive people of representation in courts in England and Wales. | They say new plans to pay per case will drive solicitors away and deprive people of representation in courts in England and Wales. |
| The Government insists reforms are needed to cut spending, up by more than a third to £2bn in the last decade. | The Government insists reforms are needed to cut spending, up by more than a third to £2bn in the last decade. |
| The protest comes ahead of three days of unofficial industrial action in courts in England and Wales. | The protest comes ahead of three days of unofficial industrial action in courts in England and Wales. |
| A number of firms will go out of business Organiser Julian Hayes Q&A: Legal aid plans From April, lawyers will be paid per case, instead of per hour, and next year, defence solicitors' firms will have to bid for legal aid contracts. | |
| Lawyers say these will drive down standards and price solicitors out of the professions, leaving legal aids 'deserts' in parts of the country. | Lawyers say these will drive down standards and price solicitors out of the professions, leaving legal aids 'deserts' in parts of the country. |
| Those affected will include people needing legal help to settle housing and employment disputes and defendants in complex criminal cases, they say. | Those affected will include people needing legal help to settle housing and employment disputes and defendants in complex criminal cases, they say. |
| Protest organiser Julian Hayes said: "It is going to be impossible for firms to operate with the cuts that are being brought in. | |
| "So there will be a vast reduction in the number of firms undertaking it, in fact a number of firms will go out of business. | "So there will be a vast reduction in the number of firms undertaking it, in fact a number of firms will go out of business. |
| "And individuals will not be able to seek advice, assistance and representation. " | "And individuals will not be able to seek advice, assistance and representation. " |
| Court action | Court action |
| Meanwhile the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) is preparing to co-ordinate action with the defence solicitors in protest at what it describes as a funding crisis in the justice system. | Meanwhile the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) is preparing to co-ordinate action with the defence solicitors in protest at what it describes as a funding crisis in the justice system. |
| More than 17,000 PCS members working in courts have been working to rule since the end of last year. | More than 17,000 PCS members working in courts have been working to rule since the end of last year. |
| The dispute is due to intensify at the end of this month as a below-inflation pay award from the Department for Constitutional Affairs comes into effect. | The dispute is due to intensify at the end of this month as a below-inflation pay award from the Department for Constitutional Affairs comes into effect. |