Not doing a Friday music vid today rather thought I'd drop in a plug, but not a detailed review, for two of the eateries my travels have taken me to this week.

First up, in the company of Andy was Brook's Restaurant in Brighouse (of Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band fame). We ate well and had some very good win and we would heartily recommend it to you.

Last night I finally got up to Gourmet Spot in Durham the new home of Middlesbrough Chief, Sean Wilkinson. We were regulars at Attitude, his Teesside venture, which was probably a little to radical for our towns more conservative diners. Last night, due to the demand from graduating students, he only had the "normality" menu on (check the web-site). He did however bring me, and my enigmatic mystery guest, some samples off the "surrealism" alternative and very good they were too. With the exception of Seaham Hall this is undoubtedly the best meal I have had this year.

A hurriedly arranged trip to film another episode of "VHCC in the Attic" today. The opportunity arose after a planned bout of PR training was cancelled following the defection of yet another of the next generation of CDS advocates to the public sector. Carters certainty that his market based reforms would convince these young lawyers that there is future in the Legal Aid sector seems, unsurprisingly, misplaced.

So a 2 hour drive to an anonymous hotel lounge to meet two firms seeking advice on preparing their bid - hope this doesn't constitute the formation of a cartel!

As Brown announces his first cabinet two questions arise; firstly that in the title of this post and secondly will it make any difference to legal aid practitioners?

We will have to wait and see.

In the meantime I am off to discuss post Carter merger with two firms - ear to the radio at all times!

UPDATE

Yep it is Straw.

More from the LAPG:

The Legal Aid Practitioners Group today accused the Ministry of Justice of “wilful blindness” in refusing to acknowledge the severe threat its proposals pose to the legal aid system.

Director Richard Miller said, “The Government says that it ‘does not accept that the provider base is generally in decline’, despite ample evidence from independent consultants that shows it is. Only last week, Crispin Passmore was expressing his disappointment that a well-respected firm in the north-east had given up legally aid immigration work. The Government needs to reflect on why, if it is on the right track, good firms are giving up, and what effect this might have on its assumption that ‘prices will not increase overall under best value tendering.’

“The Ministry says it is ‘less concerned about the conclusions of the Otterburn Consulting research than would otherwise be the case’ because they have managed to maintain 100% coverage of police station duty schemes under the present funding arrangements. Why is past duty solicitor coverage relevant to their attitude to the Otterburn report? Otterburn casts significant doubt on the ability of firms to survive the cuts in fee rates they are proposing across the whole of criminal practice. Nothing has been offered to undermine his conclusions.”

Miller added, “The introduction of fixed fees in October is to go ahead. Which bit of ‘The introduction of these fee schemes for the short transitional period should therefore be halted’ did they mistake for an endorsement?”

He concluded, “Repeatedly saying that they want to help more people and maintain high standards will not make it so. The Ministry is guilty of wilful blindness to the evidence of the likely impact of what they are doing.”

LAPG comment on the family paper issued by the LSC on Friday:

Director Richard Miller said, "The revised family proposals show clear signs of the LSC having listened to the profession's concerns. The willingness to defer introduction of the private law proposals for work after the issue of proceedings, in order to have further discussions with us, is very welcome. Other smaller changes are also appreciated, such as the agreement to pay the full fee even if the client is not involved for the whole case, and to allow for exceptional cases at level 1 where a divorce petition is involved. All in all, while we still have concerns about the level of these fees, and about the extent to which fixed fees will work at all in this field, the current proposals should avoid serious meltdown in October."

Hotel room blogging this morning ahead of a day dealing with an Internal Review and a VHCC application.

The latter seems to be warming up as an issue if yesterday evenings out of hours calls are a good indicator. Everyone we have spoken to has, once again, found this to be a pretty impenetrable process with the accompanying paperwork far from clear. We feel we are getting a handle on it but as ever it is only after you have looked at a couple of potential applications that bidding tactics begin to become clearer.

We are happy to have a phone discussion with bidders - those wanting more direct input should however ring asap as time is running out.

Whilst most people will be pleased by Fridays indication that the merger of duty schemes into larger Carter entities will not now go ahead there will probably be equal numbers confused as to why the LSC have again changed tack so dramatically. Now I appreciate that this presents a "dammed if you do dammed if you don't" quandary for them and that it is nice to know that they have taken their "I'm not listening ears off" (seemingly), but why punt such detailed proposals only to do a U-turn?

So firms will not have to do journeys like this or resort to Star Wars "matter transfer" technology after all.

The CLSA have gazumped us all, including the LSC, in getting the latest set of consultation documents and responses on the web. You can get them here, they include PACE boundaries and Slot Allocation.

This is truly my last post of the day - happy weekend reading!

UPDATE

So I lied. The above, and more - including various "final fixed fee" civil schemes - are now on the LSC web-site. I appreciate that this will significantly spoil your weekends.

On crime it does appear that Police Station fixed fees will go ahead in October but there will not be, for now at least, minimum contract volumes or any boundary mergers.

Is there anything politically important happening next week to occasion this veritable flood of communication?

Finally can't resist opening a caption competition for this photo from the front of one of the above!

We have not done a Friday video in some time so here is one. The latest album from Black Rebel Motorcycle Club is currently in the CD player in my kitchen being the last one I bought. Here is one of their earlier tracks:

We have always chucked up free plugs for support services we think our readers might be interested in.

Multi-Language is a translation firm based in our neck of the woods, run by a friend of a friend. They can cover over 60 languages with enough individuals to offer fairly widespread and flexible cover. Their rates are not out of order either.

The easiest point of contact, for details, rates etc., is either by e-mail to:

multilanguage@hotmail.co.uk

or to Abdul on 07908 032028

On the back of the story below we received today a further Threshold Competent result from a disgruntled client, who was hoping for something higher. On the basis of the last two representations we have helped prepare the detail, scale and scope of the "Major Areas of Concern" would however, if consistently assessed, suggest a fail score. For our part, having seen the files in question, this is a fair although somewhat picky result.

We reported here on, to our knowledge, the first major JR challenge to a Peer Review outcome.

Karen Todner, of major London firm Kaim Todner, has kindly sent us her thoughts on this experience which she concludes as follows:

"Until problems like this are resolved the LSC should look very carefully at that what they have actually got for their money from the IALS because in my view it's not very much. And the profession should think very cautiously about co-operating with such a poorly thought out yet draconian scheme".

The full article is too big to post in its entirety but is well worth reading and can be downloaded here.

This site will be 2 years old on Sunday and this is the 600th post. The synergy of these two facts perhaps makes now an appropriate time to wish ourselves happy birthday.

Before I head off for a day of Carter related discussion and planning, followed by an evening Peer Review training session, news of the latest PR result to come to our attention. It is a thoroughly well deserved Category 2, Competence Plus!

May we repeat our request for copies of reports for our library?

This is probably of most interest to those doing social welfare law contracts (or Integrated Social Welfare Law, ISWL, as it is now to be know).

Having clumsily tried to close down the Specialist Support Unit previously this time they are treading more carefully - perhaps they have enough other challenges on their plate at the moment.

I have, for the first time in a long time, two back-to-back days in the office. Having now cleared the decks, mainly junk mail and e-spam, I can now have a think about some work.

Top of the list is "VHCC in the Attic" with of course some revisionary reading about to begin, not least that I am out and about helping firms bid later in the week.

I have also been talking to journalists about Peer Review following the case referred to in the link. I have a little more info on this now and it appears that the LSC caved in at the door of the Court having tried to kick it into the long grass of "arbitration". They have agreed to have a new look at the "appeals" procedure too apparently. There are differing opinions as to whether this is the process beginning to unravel.

Next up is a pile of cheques to sign - can I go back on the road please?

I am in the middle of two or three appeals against savage reductions to Crown Court bills, one of which looks likely to go the full distance. Yesterday evening we received instructions regarding a further case where the reduction is two thirds.

Is this a developing theme?

SP

The VHCC Auction plans have been announced, as mentioned yesterday. My absence from the office makes detailed commentary pretty much impossible I'm afraid (put your thoughts in the comments).

More importantly, those of you seeking assistance with bids will need be quick off the mark to get in touch next week. Sandra can however send some preparatory forms right now (call 01642-225553 or email jrs@we-are-jrs.co.uk).

Meanwhile I am trying to finalise a long Special Features Notice and the latest Peer Review Appeal at a distance, over the phone. What joy.

I am composing this in baggage reclaim in Heathrow at the start of another week away from a desk aching with paperwork waiting to be completed. As ever, the timing of things never seems to be quite right - and on top of that the VHCC bids are now open (more later).

My bag has arrived extremely quickly so even this post must be truncated. The tube awaits.

SP

The plans for the allocation of the next round of interim Police Station Duty Rotas
are announced.

Move along, move along, nothing to see here

I do not have time for a full length comment on yesterdays Software Vendors Conference in Birmingham. I left at half time after finding out we were no way further forward with regard to Electronic Case Management Systems. Apparently we will get a better definition of the LCS's minimum requirements i.e. what a "file" is, next time. So there is absolutely no need to make any panic purchase of new software!

PS I got to see the new "Transformer", although sadly he did not seem able to change into a car, aeroplane or motorbike.

As promised to the London audience on Tuesday here is a link to our original story on the Quality Improvement Guides.

Happy reading.

Once again I find myself using this place to bring bad news, this time the tragic death of Ranee Bassi a client of ours in Birmingham. Sadly we only knew Ranee during the difficult times being a female sole practitioner from an ethnic background with an immigration contract created. She did however have the courage, skill and resilience to overcome these odds unlike many others in a similar situation. Moreover she was a willing helper of others struggling with like circumstances.

We extend our condolences to her friends and family.

Train from Darlo to London

Lecture for three hours

Thai meal and a train to hotel near Birmingham NEC

Lecture for 1 hour and then do the Law exhibition

Watch the match in a sad commercial-traveller pub. (Surf and Turf for tea?)

LSC Software Manufacturers meeting

Train home

Finish off Peer Review Appeal

Weekend

Then back to London for all of next week

As I sit down, somewhat gloomily and with an air of resignation, to write the latest Peer Review appeal some better news is breaking on this front. Seemingly the first major JR challenge to a Cat 4 result has resolved by way of the LSC chucking in the towel. My correspondent describes the spoiling tactics used by the LSC which ended in a decision that the result was "indefensible".

More here when I get it.

We once again have to report sad news with the sudden death last week of Steve Bevan, Practice Manager of Payne and Payne Solicitors, Hull. It was Steve who encouraged us to bring our training road-shows to the City and who was a vocal contributor at the events. We share the shock and sadness of his colleagues and extend our condolences to his family and friends.

The funeral will take place at the Holy Trinity Church in Hull at 13:45 on Tuesday 5th June. The family have indicted that it will be family flowers only but any donations will be given to the Frederick Holmes School, Hull which is a special school which Steve's disabled son attended and Steve was on the Board of Governors. The firm are happy to pass on any cards of donations.

...it was safe to go back into the water along comes more CCA related stuff. I should not be here but now I am. Please, please, please can this be the last CCA appeal I ever have the misfortune to have to deal with.