Practising this weekend for our next live outing in December. We have only a single set to do so that should not be too difficult.

We are going to add this to our repertoire too with a bit of luck (any oboe players out there?)

The LSC VAT guidance in full.

I am currently tearing my hair out with Microsoft Powerpoint. The Mac version is crashing every time I try and access "custom animation" so as to change the mad random effects it is currently chucking out (as recent CDS Masterclass delegates will testify).

I might get round to a further post if I resolve this problem.

AnonMike in the comments below raises the issue of the impact of VAT changes on your and our work. Complete nightmare, and that's before you get to the impact of this on our cost drafting service and wizards.

I am tired, grumpy and in discomfort from my neck problem today so I am going to do absolutely nothing until people who know more about this type of stuff tell me, definitively, what to do.

(Nowt on either the LSC or TLS web sites yet).

Graham's comment, that this will cost more in administration than any impact it has upon the economy, seems likely to be close to the mark.

Training courses often throw up new takes on the world of Legal Aid. Last week one delegate outlined his appeal against a decision to disallow one of 2 claims for Public Law graduated fees, having acted for 2 joined parties under 2 certificates in a care case. The day after I had a call from someone wanting to achieve the opposite. I have to say I was of the "one case ,one fee" persuasion and consequently a little pessimistic about our delegates chances.

How wrong can you be? Today he was invited to resubmit both claims for payment. Your experiences welcomed.

Off to see these guys tonight - bluegrass on a Friday night cannot beat it.

The chorus of complaints about delays in the processing of LF1 claims was amplified at yesterdays CDS course in Leeds/Bradford. More disturbingly some delegates were suggesting that there was a 6 month backlog for reviews to be processed.

The main concern relates to disagreement over the number of pages of prosecution evidence. It also appears that this is, yet again, an unforeseen difficulty though hardly surprising given that the Crown Court will not give you a clue as to the "agreed" PPE at the point of billing.

I do not have the time today to do undertake the proper Fisking that this LSC response to the Bar Council deserves. So you will have to do your own.

For the Commission to reject BC proposals because they have been considered previously when their very own current strategy is one which has seen so much historic piloting and changes of course, beggars belief.

When you read their first "important principle" you are also faced with a "where the *$%£ do you start moment", of some considerable magnitude.

The delivery of legal aid must be structured around our clients and potential clients, readily available and focussed firmly on their needs, lifestyles, known preferences and location – not those of providers.

I also have this new report to read now as well.

You know you are getting old when Police Officers/Doctors/Teachers etc start looking young, so they say. (You can substitute just about any vocation in to that equation except Criminal Defence lawyers by the way).

You also know that the years are passing when you experience your first 3-years on second round Peer Review sample request.

Cocker sings the title.

There is some clarification here regarding the "logging" arrangements for Police Station matters where instructions were, legitimately, NOT received from the DSCC e.g. family, Police or for interview by arrangement.

You have 48 hours only to log these and this guidance states that they will not be claimable if this is not complied with.

It also makes clear that you do not need to log at all on, legitimately, transferred instructions.

For the second time this year we get to see Mr Weller tomorrow night, this time in the Geordie Ice RInk.

This is the title track from the last album which we will here a lot of tomorrow I suspect.

No matter what the issue the Gazette has it covered this week.

First up is coverage of job losses at the LSC and its likely impact upon practitioners - sorry suppliers.

Then there is the issue of charging rates for Defence Cost Orders to reimburse innocent private paying clients caught by the proposed Crown Court means test.

Finally, and most poignantly with the case of Baby P in the news, is the issue of the cost of child care applications.

So much for "joined-up thinking".

In the light of recent posts Andy and I are meeting to day to discuss "strategic issues". So far all we have done is deal with detailed technical queries regarding civil standard and graduated fee billing. So, as ever, we have been distracted by the immediate demands of the day rather than working through our pre-planned agenda.

Nothing changes.

(We are really sharp on Mental Health new matter starts and Family Public Law Graduated Fees this morning mind you).

This has proved the most read post of this blogs 3 and a bit year history. As I have been saying to those who made phone contact, we will have to see if this is as significant as we think but most, nay all, of you seem to be in agreement.

I am still available for a chat on the subject for those with 5 minutes to kill.

You have probably noticed that we no longer offer training events on all but massive consultation exercises. I have a further confession to make; I now rarely read them in any detail, the executive summary and a scan of rest is sufficient, and I then await the final outcome. Is this remiss of me?

Here is one of interest to firms doing Crown Court Criminal Defence work.

Was sublime last weekend - the best vocal performance and most commanding stage presence I have ever witnessed. The new album, Terra, is similarly fantastic and is a bit of a crossover from Fado into a range of other styles (since I first saw her on telly in 2001 I have been convinced she could become a Jazz great).

This is one of the less trad. tracks on the album, which British artists will be glad cannot be Mercury nominated. Unfortunately it is not a proper video so sound only. The "single" Rosa Branca can be seen on the website link above.

On the back of some positive "audit" experience this week comes a pair of Peer Review passes. One was a bit hit and miss the other a solid Competence Plus. Once again the former raises some serious consistency issues especially in comparison to our current outstanding appeal.

Lets stay positive though, 2 more results.

I would not be surprised if delegates on my most recent training tour either did not get, or did not fully believe, the core message concerning ongoing relationships with the Commission.

Does it sound conceited to say that the earliest litmus tests, as covered in posts below, have proved this to be entirely correct? I am not shouting about it though and am trying to be a little discrete (for a change). There is however an interesting and informative tale which we are happy to tell privately by phone or e-mail.

A year later than planned, and for what they received a premature award, LSC Offline in once again Online, well partially.

If you are in one of the lucky regions let us know how it is working. If you are using one of our Wizards, and can confirm that it is cutting the mustard, even better.

The new E-Focus is out now.

Have a look at the "Top tips on tendering" reproduced from page 4

Do
· Remember to sign your contract
· Make sure you observe time limits
· Carefully read ‘information for
applicants’ when completing your
documentation
· Submit all specified documentation
· Provide research to demonstrate
understanding of client needs
· Check all figures and calculations for
errors
· Ensure your presentation fulfils format
instructions
Don’t
· Repeat yourself
· Quote large chunks of LSC or LSRC
information
· Submit unnecessary paperwork

Now we have run an occasional series of Viz Comic style Top Tips in the past - here is another one;

LSC why not further alienate your "suppliers" by filling space in your magazine with patronising lists stating the bleeding obvious.

Andy writes;
 
This week JRS has seen a hive of activity by the LSC's Newcastle, Nottingham and Birmingham offices. This activity has been in the form of quite informal on site audits. Two were in the guise of KPI audits the third a control audit.
 
All three however had a common theme, which was the auditors deep interest in the firms future plans, commitment to Legal aid and plans for expansion. This seems to coincide nicely with publication of the consultation paper for the Civil Bid Round 2010. Discussions were also undertaken with regard to the construction of league tables. Is this a watered down preferred supplier scheme? We will keep you informed. 
 
Also there has been a little inconsistency with regards to advice given on end points, especially when considering the end point for " Client ceases to give instructions". It was suggested by one area office that if a letter was issued to the client stating that the fee-earner presumes everything is in order due to lack of communication and if not to get in touch that this can justify a positive outcome.
 
We have always advised that fee earners can not presume anything but need to obtain clear instructions from the client as to the position before a positive outcome is recorded. This was the position taken by the Nottingham area office.
 
It is clear that firms need to ensure that they have a pro active approach at the conclusion of cases and that sufficient contact details are obtained from the client at the outset in order that constructive and effective attempts can be made to contact the.
 
Finally one thing that was clear and consistent across the audits was the auditors contentment when suppliers could talk intelligently and informatively about contract performance, especially when firms could show that they have the ability to analyse the billing information and therefore clearly answer any concerns that the auditor had. For two of the firms this was down to the fact that they have used our CMRF Wizard and we will encourage all of you out there to do the same or some equivalent.

Apparently Sky News is reporting 600 job losses at the LSC and I have now found this story in the Guardian.

More to follow, no doubt.

UPDATE

More here.

UPDATE 2

The LSC have responded.

LSC auditors are out and about again and we have a rash of clients facing forthcoming visits.

One of the first KPI audits we have had some involvement with went swimmingly it seems. Lesson to be learned; sharp monitoring of contract statistics and good quality control of reporting.

There is a second audit taking place today so probably more to report later in the week and a "control audit" next.

In both cases access to data to our free CMRF Wizard has been vital.