Comments on: Legal Aid contract round – In the thick of it http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/2010/07/legal-aid-contract-round-in-the-thick-of-it/ Housing law news and comment Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:56:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: NLhttp://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/2010/07/legal-aid-contract-round-in-the-thick-of-it/#comment-4480 NL Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:45:44 +0000 http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/?p=5056#comment-4480 Thanks Chris. I'm still shocked by the decision, although no doubt less shocked than you all. Letter of support to come. Thanks Chris. I’m still shocked by the decision, although no doubt less shocked than you all. Letter of support to come.

]]> By: Chris Jhttp://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/2010/07/legal-aid-contract-round-in-the-thick-of-it/#comment-4461 Chris J Tue, 27 Jul 2010 21:32:31 +0000 http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/?p=5056#comment-4461 OK we'll enable you to stop being coy about at least one of the firms you are talking about!! We at Community Law Partnership are one of the two provincial firms referred to. We are, of course, appealing the decision. At this stage we would appreciate letters of support. These should be,I would suggest, addressed 'to whom it may concenr' and please both post to us at CLP, 4th Floor Ruskin Chambers, 191 Corporation St, Birmingham B4 6RP and e-mail a copy to chrisjohnson@communitylawpartnership.co.uk Thanks to all for their support and we will keep you all informed of progress Well done as ever to the NL crew for their excellent work on this site OK we’ll enable you to stop being coy about at least one of the firms you are talking about!! We at Community Law Partnership are one of the two provincial firms referred to. We are, of course, appealing the decision. At this stage we would appreciate letters of support. These should be,I would suggest, addressed ‘to whom it may concenr’ and please both post to us at CLP, 4th Floor Ruskin Chambers, 191 Corporation St, Birmingham B4 6RP and e-mail a copy to chrisjohnson@communitylawpartnership.co.uk
Thanks to all for their support and we will keep you all informed of progress
Well done as ever to the NL crew for their excellent work on this site

]]> By: Caithttp://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/2010/07/legal-aid-contract-round-in-the-thick-of-it/#comment-4452 Cait Tue, 27 Jul 2010 09:05:29 +0000 http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/?p=5056#comment-4452 I think we mean the same two firms NL. So far I've not heard of any shock and awe results in other provincial cities -but not heard full details of them either. There does appear to be a rather suprising trend going on though... Cait I think we mean the same two firms NL.
So far I’ve not heard of any shock and awe results in other provincial cities -but not heard full details of them either.

There does appear to be a rather suprising trend going on though…

Cait

]]> By: JShttp://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/2010/07/legal-aid-contract-round-in-the-thick-of-it/#comment-4435 JS Mon, 26 Jul 2010 22:50:32 +0000 http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/?p=5056#comment-4435 One should also not forget the need to have available the option of the second opinion. Most of us will have had experience of coming across a client who has been knocked back by other firms or counsel yet for whom we can identify a case- especially in an area where the law is as complicated as housing law. One should also not forget the need to have available the option of the second opinion.

Most of us will have had experience of coming across a client who has been knocked back by other firms or counsel yet for whom we can identify a case- especially in an area where the law is as complicated as housing law.

]]> By: NLhttp://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/2010/07/legal-aid-contract-round-in-the-thick-of-it/#comment-4434 NL Mon, 26 Jul 2010 20:50:04 +0000 http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/?p=5056#comment-4434 Rich, the ilegal boards are interesting and helpful, but useless for figuring out what the picture is in terms of allocation of contracts - understandably, people don't say. Cait - interesting (if worrying). Not sure if it is the same two firms we know about. There are also intriguing rumours about parts of London, those that aren't still waiting. Kris - I'm taking a wild stab at 'firm x', but the flux and flow of rumour suggests the result might not wholly be what you expect. That said, while the principle of choice in the legal aid sector often remains just a principle, due to demand, it is important that there is at least more than one provider in each area as there are plenty of opportunities for conflicts of interest to arise. That and the sheer waste of specialist, detailed knowledge... Rich, the ilegal boards are interesting and helpful, but useless for figuring out what the picture is in terms of allocation of contracts – understandably, people don’t say.

Cait – interesting (if worrying). Not sure if it is the same two firms we know about. There are also intriguing rumours about parts of London, those that aren’t still waiting.

Kris – I’m taking a wild stab at ‘firm x’, but the flux and flow of rumour suggests the result might not wholly be what you expect. That said, while the principle of choice in the legal aid sector often remains just a principle, due to demand, it is important that there is at least more than one provider in each area as there are plenty of opportunities for conflicts of interest to arise. That and the sheer waste of specialist, detailed knowledge…

]]> By: Richhttp://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/2010/07/legal-aid-contract-round-in-the-thick-of-it/#comment-4425 Rich Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:00:16 +0000 http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/?p=5056#comment-4425 There are a lot of worrying stories about. I have been checking ilegal frequently to find out whats going on. Its important we communicate with each other so any activity can be co-ordianted. Here is the link for ilegal http://legalaidandme.proboards.com/index.cgi There are a lot of worrying stories about. I have been checking ilegal frequently to find out whats going on. Its important we communicate with each other so any activity can be co-ordianted. Here is the link for ilegal

http://legalaidandme.proboards.com/index.cgi

]]> By: Caithttp://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/2010/07/legal-aid-contract-round-in-the-thick-of-it/#comment-4403 Cait Sun, 25 Jul 2010 14:18:00 +0000 http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/?p=5056#comment-4403 Im not subject to this contract round - but have an investment in seeing good quality and accessible solicitors (especially as those two features often clash) retain their contracts. Working nationally there seems to have been really mixed results. A bit gutted about two provincial firms I've heard who havent got contracts. Won't name names as per NLs instructions :( Very much waiting on tenterhooks for London outcomes as NLs firm being ok, is the only one I am aware of - most of the solicitors I use are in the due dilligence boroughs so its yet more waiting. Don't envy any of you who are waiting for the results :( Good luck Im not subject to this contract round – but have an investment in seeing good quality and accessible solicitors (especially as those two features often clash) retain their contracts.

Working nationally there seems to have been really mixed results. A bit gutted about two provincial firms I’ve heard who havent got contracts. Won’t name names as per NLs instructions :(

Very much waiting on tenterhooks for London outcomes as NLs firm being ok, is the only one I am aware of – most of the solicitors I use are in the due dilligence boroughs so its yet more waiting.

Don’t envy any of you who are waiting for the results :( Good luck

]]> By: krishttp://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/2010/07/legal-aid-contract-round-in-the-thick-of-it/#comment-4401 kris Sun, 25 Jul 2010 12:58:53 +0000 http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/?p=5056#comment-4401 and another thing... I volunteer at a legal advice clinic. Where a client is going to need on going assistance, I give them the details of a few local legal aid solicitors. I have a sinking feeling Firm X may have won the lion's share of the contract in the borough. Trouble is, when I have suggested Firm X, the punters turn their nose up. Where is the choice for the client? The Government might reward the McDonald's approach to legal services by giving a firm the contract for the borough, but when the clients tell you they've been to Firm X and "they're not doing anything/ I can never see them" then is that really public money well spent? Really? and another thing…

I volunteer at a legal advice clinic. Where a client is going to need on going assistance, I give them the details of a few local legal aid solicitors.

I have a sinking feeling Firm X may have won the lion’s share of the contract in the borough.

Trouble is, when I have suggested Firm X, the punters turn their nose up.

Where is the choice for the client?

The Government might reward the McDonald’s approach to legal services by giving a firm the contract for the borough, but when the clients tell you they’ve been to Firm X and “they’re not doing anything/ I can never see them” then is that really public money well spent? Really?

]]> By: krishttp://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/2010/07/legal-aid-contract-round-in-the-thick-of-it/#comment-4384 kris Fri, 23 Jul 2010 22:25:59 +0000 http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/?p=5056#comment-4384 Appreciating that the dust has yet to completely settle, I have to say I feel like I've seen this before. It reminds me of Walmart's take over of the American mid-west - and the decimation of many locally owned shops in the process. I'll leave it for others to draw further analogies. Appreciating that the dust has yet to completely settle, I have to say I feel like I’ve seen this before.

It reminds me of Walmart’s take over of the American mid-west – and the decimation of many locally owned shops in the process.

I’ll leave it for others to draw further analogies.

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