SLAB announces local meetings on draft criminal code and fees

Meetings around Scotland to discuss the draft Code of Practice for Criminal Legal Assistance, and proposals for reform of criminal legal aid fees, among other matters, have been announced by the Scottish Legal Aid Board.

The Board has revised its draft code, which attracted much criticism from solicitors and from the Law Society of Scotland when first issued for consultation, in light of feedback received. Matters open to discussion at the meetings include:

• the police station and duty requirements;
• proposed revisions to the draft code;
• how SLAB should design the arrangements for solicitors who do very little or no criminal work but who want to remain on the criminal register;
• the information solicitors would find helpful to be published alongside the code on how SLAB manages its own statutory responsibilities.

It will also seek views on proposals for reform of summary and solemn criminal legal aid fees, and provide an update on the proposals for police station advice.

The meetings, open to all solicitors registered for criminal legal aid, are as follows:

Tuesday 18 July: Royal College of Surgeons, Nicolson Street, Edinburgh

Thursday 20 July: Queens Hotel, Nethergate, Dundee

Tuesday 25 July: Aberdeen Sheriff Court, Atrium Cafe (venue to be confirmed)

Thursday 27 July: Park Hotel, Rugby Park, Kilmarnock

Thursday 3 August: Mercure Hotel, Church Street, Inverness

Thursday 10 August: The Hub, 45 Mercure Stret, Falkirk

Tuesday 15 August: City Hotel, Bridge Street, Dunfermline

Thursday 17 August: Glasgow Sheriff Court, canteen area

All meetings start at 4.30pm and will run to about to 6.30pm.

Contact details for more information at this link