Policy
1 February, 2008
Unified Contract: LSC actively engaged in discussions with the Law Society
Not 'necessary or desirable for this matter to be resolved by the courts'
The Legal Services Commission (LSC) has announced today that, like the Law Society, they do not believe that it is necessary, or desirable, for the matter concerning the Unified Contract to be resolved by the courts. They are actively engaged in discussions with the Law Society, with the objective of resolving the issue at the earliest opportunity.
Commenting on the discussions, Chief Executive of the LSC, Carolyn Regan said -
'We recognise that the Court of Appeal’s decision on the application of the EU Procurement Regulations does change the nature of the relationship between the LSC and its providers, and the way in which we will need to frame our contractual relationships in the future.
Our objective remains to achieve a legal aid scheme that is sustainable in the long term: one that ensures access to good quality legal services for clients, a stable and sustainable future for providers and value for money for the taxpayer.
We believe that those objectives are most likely to be achieved if we can now provide a period of business stability and certainty for providers, and time for us to work together to develop the basis of the new contractual relationship that we will need to achieve.'
For more information see the LSC press release Unified Contract: discussions continuing with The Law Society.
See also the related rightsnet policy new stories -
- Law Society to issue second judicial review of Unified Contract: Guidance sought on how LSC must remedy breaches (31 January, 2008)
- Latest development in the Law Society challenge of the Unified Contract : Pre-action protocol letter issued to the LSC (28 January, 2008)
- Law Society issues response to LSC's intention to terminate Unified Contract: Civil fixed fee schemes not valid (7 January, 2008)
- LSC update on Unified Contract after Court of Appeal judgement: Intention to terminate Unified Contract and re-tender for the work (3 January, 2008)
- Unified Contract judgement - implications for providers: LSC must rescind October 2007 amendments (5 December, 2007)
- Judgement on the Law Society's challenge of the LSC's unified contract announced: Law Society wins appeal over LSC's right to unilaterally amend the contract (29 November, 2007)
- Law Society and LSC secure expedited Court of Appeal hearing : Following judgement in July on unified contract (12 October, 2007)
- LSC criminal contract changes delayed until January 2008: But civil fixed fees go ahead as planned (3 October, 2007)
- LSC announces appeal against the unified contract judicial review judgement: Decision to be challenged on their ability to amend 'technical specifications' (7 September, 2007)
- LSC 'confirm' their position on the unified contract: No plans to amend provisions in the short term (2 August, 2007)
- High Court upholds Law Society's objections to the unified contract: 'Judgement underlines the shortcomings of the LSC approach' to legal aid reform (30 July, 2007)
- LSC publishes draft Unified Contract Specification : Reforms to be implemented from October 2007 (18 July, 2007)
- Government faces double challenge over legal aid reforms: Law Society, CRE and ethnic minority law firms go to the high court (9 July, 2007)
- Law Society issues judicial review proceedings: LSC's right to unilaterally amend the unified contract to be challenged (27 April, 2007)
- Law Society threaten judicial review on unified contract: Legal Services Commission urged to delay contract implementation (27 March, 2007)
