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Legal aid work refused by law firms in cutbacks protest | Legal aid work refused by law firms in cutbacks protest |
(about 9 hours later) | |
A number of criminal law firms have refused to take work funded by legal aid in protest against government cuts. | A number of criminal law firms have refused to take work funded by legal aid in protest against government cuts. |
Solicitors' fees in England and Wales are being reduced by 8.75% from 1 July after they were cut by the same percentage in 2014. | Solicitors' fees in England and Wales are being reduced by 8.75% from 1 July after they were cut by the same percentage in 2014. |
The government is implementing cuts to reduce the £1.7bn bill for legal aid, which helps people who cannot afford the costs of legal advice. | The government is implementing cuts to reduce the £1.7bn bill for legal aid, which helps people who cannot afford the costs of legal advice. |
Lawyer Zoe Gascoyne said the cuts "threatened" the work of legal firms. | Lawyer Zoe Gascoyne said the cuts "threatened" the work of legal firms. |
'Grassroots work' | 'Grassroots work' |
The Liverpool solicitor, who is spearheading the protests, denied claims wealthy lawyers were refusing to help people dependent on legal aid. | |
She said: "Newly-qualified solicitors with seven years' training can earn £22,000 a year for the first five years. Anyone who comes into the law for money wouldn't go anywhere near criminal law. | She said: "Newly-qualified solicitors with seven years' training can earn £22,000 a year for the first five years. Anyone who comes into the law for money wouldn't go anywhere near criminal law. |
"We're grassroots, this is our work. We can't do it if our businesses are being threatened." | "We're grassroots, this is our work. We can't do it if our businesses are being threatened." |
She said firms in Merseyside, Manchester, Yorkshire, Newcastle, Durham and London were refusing to take work funded by legal aid from 1 July. | She said firms in Merseyside, Manchester, Yorkshire, Newcastle, Durham and London were refusing to take work funded by legal aid from 1 July. |
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said the Legal Aid Agency had plans in place to ensure the criminal justice system would operate effectively despite the protests. | A Ministry of Justice spokesman said the Legal Aid Agency had plans in place to ensure the criminal justice system would operate effectively despite the protests. |
He added the cuts would be "challenging" but were "designed to ensure... a system of criminal legal aid that delivers value for money to taxpayers". | He added the cuts would be "challenging" but were "designed to ensure... a system of criminal legal aid that delivers value for money to taxpayers". |
An independent review of the new arrangements would be started in July 2016, he said. | An independent review of the new arrangements would be started in July 2016, he said. |
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