Positive, but more needed: reactions to legal aid rise
"Positive news", "relief" and "a start" are among the comments from the legal profession in response to yesterday's announcement of a rise in fees and other measures for the hard pressed legal aid sector.
Late yesterday Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf announced a general 10% rise in legal aid fees over the next two financial years, together with a £9m support fund for firms hit by the lack of work due to the COVID-19 pandemic (click here for report).
In an initial reaction, Amanda Millar, President of the Law Society of Scotland, which had sought an immediate 50% rise, described Mr Yousaf's announcement as a "positive response". She continued: "I am pleased that he has recognised our point that this is not simply an issue caused by the pandemic. The 10% across the board uplift in fees over the next two financial years is a start towards addressing three decades of underinvestment, but it is only the start. I look forward to receiving more details about the criteria for the COVID resilience fund to reach those legal aid practitioners who have been hardest hit by the pandemic." (Click here for full statement.)
She added her thanks to the Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen Bar Associations which had engaged with the Government alongside the Society to make the case for an increase – as did Mr Yousaf, in a tweet.
Also on Twitter, the Glasgow Bar Association commented: "Yes it’s a start. But hopefully the start of addressing three decades of underinvestment. It’s amazing that our legal aid lawyers have continued in this climate of underfunding."
Mr Yousaf also acknowledged the contribution of the Society's legal aid co-convener and chief negotiator Ian Moir, who had "personally put in a lot of graft over many years on this issue". In turn Mr Moir said he looked forward to "more positive and constructive meetings with you to get legal aid back to where it needs to be for the benefit of all in Scotland".
Other reactions included the Scottish Criminal Bar Association; "Welcome news today"; solicitor Aamer Anwar: "Relief for criminal bar, as many facing disaster in worst crisis in living memory"; solicitor Alistair Sloan: "Some very welcome Christmas news... fees still far behind where they would be if they'd kept pace with inflation, but 10% over 2 years not to be sniffed at"; and solicitor David O'Hagan: "I welcome an increase in fees although past experience leaves me cynical as to how it will be delivered. Often 'increases' have been offset with cuts elsewhere. I really hope this is a genuine attempt to redress the decades of cuts imposed upon us".