Shifting legal landscape driving down fees

Posted By: James

Monday 4th August 2014

Ralph Blackburn reports on warnings from the legal profession that the traditionally close relationship between solicitors and barristers may be coming to an end. Legal aid cuts have led to a loss of work for barristers, says Mr Blackburn, who cites Middlesbrough-based barrister Collette Price who suggests public access work is driving down fees as it allows barristers to bypass solicitors to gain clients. “Direct access to barristers is completely new and becoming more and more common," Ms Price said, and although using barristers over solicitors meant "clients have to do certain things a solicitor would do…the client has more control." The amount of traditional work barristers get is reduced through this competition as solicitors are referring fewer clients on to barristers, to make up for their loss in earnings. Jo Edwards, chair of the family law organisation Revolution, acknowledged that lawyers are being forced to "develop creative ideas to keep their business viable in the post-legal aid landscape” but fears that many will never be able to benefit from the changes as “they simply cannot afford to access legal advice and are no longer eligible for legal aid."

 

The Independant on Sunday

[Would you like to leave a comment?]