Legal aid contract challenges extend current Duty Solicitor Contracts

Legal Challenges by Solicitors across the Country have prevented the Government rolling out the grossly unfair new duty provider contracts.

The Ministry of Justice was hoping to begin the new duty provider contracts on 1 April 2016. However, a judicial review, sought by the Fair Crime Contracts Alliance, will open on 7 April and is expected to last seven days.

A spokesperson for the MoJ said it was defending the legal challenges ‘and it would not be appropriate to discuss individual cases that are subject to ongoing litigation in the courts’