This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6190276.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Legal aid review plan published Legal aid review plan published
(about 3 hours later)
The government is due to publish proposals which are likely to dramatically reshape the legal aid system in England and Wales.The government is due to publish proposals which are likely to dramatically reshape the legal aid system in England and Wales.
Ministers hope the reform will save £100 million a year. Ministers hope to save £100m a year on the £2bn-a-year legal aid structure.
Under the new plans, lawyers would bid for all legal aid work generated by groups of police stations, rather than be paid by the hour.Under the new plans, lawyers would bid for all legal aid work generated by groups of police stations, rather than be paid by the hour.
The plans are already facing opposition from the legal profession which says they would put people out of work.The plans are already facing opposition from the legal profession which says they would put people out of work.
The proposals are based on a report by Lord Carter of Coles, who reviewed the £2 billion-a-year legal aid structure and published his findings in July. The proposals are based on a report by Lord Carter of Coles, who reviewed the legal aid structure and published his findings in July.
Job lossesJob losses
His report predicted that about 400 small law firms would merge or go out of business.His report predicted that about 400 small law firms would merge or go out of business.
And while young barristers would be paid 16 to 30% more in fees, top-earning QCs would face cuts, he said. And while young barristers would be paid 16% to 30% more in fees, top-earning QCs would face cuts, he said.
Money would be redirected from criminal legal aid, which is expected to be cut by more than 20% over four years, to under-funded civil law work.Money would be redirected from criminal legal aid, which is expected to be cut by more than 20% over four years, to under-funded civil law work.
Lord Carter said his 62 recommendations would strip £100 million from the system over a five-year period. Lord Carter said his 62 recommendations would strip £100m from the system over a five-year period.
After publishing his report in July, he said: "The existing system does permit people to make unreasonably large amounts of money.After publishing his report in July, he said: "The existing system does permit people to make unreasonably large amounts of money.
"We believe the new system can find ways to constrain that.""We believe the new system can find ways to constrain that."
Rising costsRising costs
Since 1997, legal aid costs have risen from £1.5 billion a year to £2.1 billion. Since 1997, legal aid costs have risen from £1.5bn a year to £2.1bn.
Lord Carter revealed that £90 million of that was spent on paying solicitors for the time they spent travelling or waiting at police stations and magistrates' courts in 2004-2005. Lord Carter revealed that £90m of that was spent on paying solicitors for the time they spent travelling or waiting at police stations and magistrates' courts in 2004-2005.
The Law Society, the solicitors' professional body, opposes the reforms.The Law Society, the solicitors' professional body, opposes the reforms.
And the Criminal Courts Solicitors' Association has said the proposals would force 1,000 law firms to close.And the Criminal Courts Solicitors' Association has said the proposals would force 1,000 law firms to close.
The government's proposals, which have gone out to consultation, will be closely based on Lord Carter's recommendations.The government's proposals, which have gone out to consultation, will be closely based on Lord Carter's recommendations.