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Britain’s criminal legal-aid rates to go up 12%

British government plans unveiled yesterday (19 December) to increase criminal legal-aid rates for solicitors by a further 12% are a boost to the profession and to access to justice, the Law Society of England and Wales has said.

Following consultation, a 6% rise is in the offing, with an additional 6% to come.

The England and Wales Law Society and practitioner groups have been campaigning for fairer legal-aid rates for their members to halt the exodus from the profession.

This included taking the previous government to court for failing to implement a 15% rise that an independent review recommended was urgently needed.

Welcome step

Commenting, Law Society president Richard Atkinson said: “The increase in funding is a welcome step forward that gives solicitors hope that there is a future in providing this vital public service, but it is only a step.

“While this means solicitors will have received more than the 15% recommended by the Bellamy Review, years of inflation means further progress is needed to deliver a sustainable future.

“The new government is demonstrating a commitment to rebuilding the ailing justice system and understands investment in criminal legal aid is a key part of a holistic solution to the current criminal-justice crisis.”