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Lawyers to protest over legal aid Lawyers to protest over legal aid
(about 7 hours later)
More than 1,000 lawyers are expected to demonstrate outside Parliament against reforms to the legal aid system.More than 1,000 lawyers are expected to demonstrate outside Parliament against reforms to the legal aid system.
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. 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 it 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.
But 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, which will take place in Parliament Square on Monday afternoon, comes ahead of three days of unofficial industrial action in courts in England and Wales. It is expected to be the biggest single demonstration ever staged by solicitors. A number of firms will go out of business Organiser Julian Hayes 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.
The BBC's home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said it was expected to be the biggest single demonstration ever staged by solicitors, reflecting the strength of feeling about the reforms.
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.
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.
"And individuals will not be able to seek advice, assistance and representation. "
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.
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.