This just in - I am making further enquiries regarding the detail.

LSC urged to embrace landmark Legal Aid ruling

Thames Valley solicitors, Dexter Montague & Partners celebrated success at the Court of Appeal today in their claim brought jointly with the Law Society against the Legal Services Commission’s new Legal Aid supplier contract.

Welcoming the appeal result, DMP’s managing partner Bill Montague commented:

“As the Court of Appeal’s judgment sets out so clearly, the principal of transparency which underpins the public contract regulations has profound implications for legal aid contracting. It goes to the heart of the relationship between the LSC and its suppliers, a relationship that is currently at an all time low. The LSC could make a large stride towards regaining the confidence of solicitors by responding constructively to this landmark judgment.

Beyond the specific steps needed to bring the unified contract in line with the Court of Appeal’s decision, I would urge the LSC to take on board its wider implications by adopting an approach to contracting which gives legal aid suppliers the clarity and stability they need to maintain sustainable businesses. It’s no good paying lip service to the aim of a sustainable legal aid system if that aspiration is not embodied in the supplier contracting arrangements and the terms of the contract itself.”

Amen to that - oh and well done!

UPDATE

This doesn't help much and their dog-in-the-manger - "we will have no choice but to terminate and re-tender for contracts much more frequently than in the past" - approach looks set to continue.

UPDATE 2

This however, from the Law Society gives an entirely different take on things.