Anon in the comments below submits this view of this recent event.
The show was conducted by Richard Collins and Crispin Passmore, various Legal Services Commission and DCA staff were also there to chat to attendees during coffee breaks.
To quote the Legal Services Commission, the meeting was to, “ provide information listen to views and answer questions”.
The meeting was in two sessions, in the first session the Legal Services Commission outline the reasons for Carter and provided various facts and figures on the need for change (all available from the LSC Website). The second session was for questions from the floor. The LSC have now placed on their website details of these questions and answers Link to Q&A Civil/Family Link to Q&A Crime, which should be updated as further issues are raised in roadshows or direct questions to the LSC.
Mood of the meeting – Quiet resignation, with talk of firms walking away from Legal Aid work.
Biggest losers, specialist Legal Aid firms who deal with Public Law or Community Law, who by the very nature of their expertise and specialisation, tend to deal with many difficult and complex cases, who under the new system will only get paid, the one size fits all price.
UPDATE
People at the Newcastle Carter session are reporting a less than convincing training session on means testing last night and also some tension at the Carter session in Lincoln. Nigel comments on his experiences above, which is worth posting here. Any other thoughts greatfully received.
I was at the same roadshow and for reasons that i won't bore you with had the doubtful pleasure of being at the "civil" and "crime" events. The atmosphere between the 2 was quite markedly different, at the "civil" it was more we want to get this right and we are listening to your views - yes I know it holds about as much water as " the cheques in the post " and " yes dear you look lovely in that new dress" but hey that was the tenure. With the civil meeting there was certainly far more animosity to the extent that everyone forewent coffee to "ask" more questions. Richard Collins was as ever "slick" Derek Hill far less so. I was assured it was a genuine consultation but in view of the fact that everyone who responded re the funding committee changes was against them but they went ahead anyway I have my doubts. All in all somewhat depressing!