Independent review into Criminal Legal Aid to launch in January
The long-term sustainability of the criminal legal aid market will be the focus of an independent review, it was confirmed today (21 December).
- Review will聽take a look at the whole criminal legal aid market
- Diversity,聽funding, and聽efficiency聽of the sector will be considered
- Part of ongoing work to reform and improve the criminal legal aid system
Launching in January, the review will be led by former judge Sir Christopher Bellamy. It aims to ensure the聽legal aid sector聽can adapt to the changing聽criminal justice聽system, while continuing to provide high-quality advice and representation.
Ministers are determined to聽make sure聽the criminal justice system聽is fully equipped to聽deal with any increase in the number of cases, now and in the future.
The far-reaching review will look at the criminal legal aid market in its entirety, specifically聽it seeks to ensure that it:
- continues to聽provide high-quality legal advice and representation
- is provided through a diverse set of practitioners
- is appropriately funded
- is responsive to defendant needs both now and in the future
- contributes to the efficiency and effectiveness of the Criminal Justice System
- is transparent
- is resilient
- is delivered in a way that鈥痯rovides鈥痸alue鈥痜or money to the taxpayer.
This聽is the latest聽step in the Criminal Legal Aid Review, which聽has already led to up to 拢51mper year in new payments for the sector that was announced in the summer.聽It forms part of wider work to聽ensure criminal defence remains an enduringly attractive career for practitioners.
The Lord Chancellor, Robert Buckland QC MP, said:
Criminal defence lawyers聽play聽a聽crucial聽role in upholding the law,聽representing clients and聽protecting聽their聽right to a fair trial.
This independent聽review will聽be wide-ranging and ambitious,聽ensuring聽the criminal legal aid market聽remains effective and sustainable, while reflecting the diverse society it serves.
I am grateful to the sector for its continued cooperation and look forward to聽this important work commencing in earnest in聽the new year.
Chair of the Review, Sir Christopher Bellamy, said:
The criminal legal aid sector is a vital pillar of the justice system.
I look forward to engaging with all stakeholders on this review, which aims to give the criminal legal aid sector long-term sustainability.
罢丑别听谤别惫颈别飞聽will begin in January and report back later in the year. It will include input from a wide range of criminal defence practitioners who have been providing valuable data and insight for the Criminal Legal Aid Review.