In recent years I have spoken on a number of occasions at the same events as Stephen Hewitt of Fisher Meredith - usually regarding Preferred Supplier. The following letter, to the LSC, was reproduced in an excellent article in the most recent issue of Independent Lawyer (worth a subscription if you do not already have one). With his kind permission we reproduce it here:

LSC Unified Contract

We at Fisher Meredith, together with other firms across the country, took a stand on Friday against being bullied into signing this inequitable and destructive contract.

Our staff were unanimous in their opposition to what you seek to impose on us and the lawyers instructed by our professional body could not advise any firm to sign. That contract, together with the fees and rates proposed, will spell the end of legal aid for all good suppliers. It is a disgrace.

Through its action, and those of the DCA and Lord Chancellor, you have poisoned the relationship with all those firms across the country who have tried their hardest and applied their experience and expertise for many years to provide access to justice for the socially disadvantaged – and you have made it impossible for the scheme itself to continue in the long term. The Commission and the politicians responsible should feel thoroughly ashamed of themselves today and henceforth.

Our staff are naturally terribly worried about their own commitments. They want to get on with their service to their clients. How long we shall be able to do this is of course in doubt because of your approach to legal aid in the future. We are therefore reluctantly having to sign. We do so under protest and without prejudice to our contention that it is unacceptable as a way forward and that several clauses are unlawful; also under protest as to the appalling rates of pay you propose which will make it non viable in the longer term.

We were your first preferred supplier and you have treated us appallingly.

Yours in anger and disappointment.

Eileen Pembridge and Stephen Hewitt

It seems to capture the mood and atmosphere very well. That a such vocal advocate of the Preferred Supplier Scheme, designed to deliver "excellent partnership working", now corresponds in such terms is, I think, the most damming indictment of the current situation imaginable.

We obviously offer the LSC the right of reply on these pages.