Legal Aid

Defence lawyers around Scotland have gone on strike today after last-minute talks with the Scottish government to obtain additional payments from its resilience fund failed. The Scottish Solicitors Bar Association held talks with Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf over the remainder of the fund yesterda

The Scottish government has made a conscious decision to deprive the legal aid system of funding. The number of lawyers able to service the scheme is dwindling. Wooed by COPFS or simply unwilling to be the sticking plaster in a broken system, they have left. As lawyers strike today, solicitor advoca

The 'resilience fund' offered to criminal legal aid solicitors by the Scottish government is worth less than half of the money it has saved in legal aid payments over the pandemic as a result of the sharp decline in criminal business. The fund, of which only a fraction has been paid, is worth a tota

Legal aid fees have increased by five per cent across the board from today, the biggest increase in more than a decade – but the Law Society of Scotland has warned that more must be done to address a "generation of underfunding". The Scottish government unveiled its revised legal aid package i

The Scottish government's revised legal aid package has been welcomed by the Law Society of Scotland. Amanda Millar, president of the Law Society said: “This revised package is one we support as a positive step forward. £20 million of new money is a significant investment in a vital part

Significant concerns have been raised over the Scottish statutory instrument implementing an ostensible increase in legal aid fees proposed by the Scottish government last year. The Glasgow Bar Association said only five of its members supported the package offered by the government and that it had

The Scottish government's announcement that legal aid solicitors will benefit from a 10 per cent uplift in legal aid fees and access to a £9 million fund to help those experiencing hardship as a result of Covid-19 has received a cautious response. Following meetings with the Law Society of Sco

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf has agreed to look at additional options for financially supporting Scotland's legal aid sector. The Law Society of Scotland said it had constructive talks with Mr Yousaf, who has promised to respond in two weeks.

So, today it’s the beleaguered staff at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service balloting on strike action. Yesterday, it was the hard-pressed members of the Edinburgh and Glasgow bar associations taking action. Both of these actions, to which Scottish Legal News is entirely sympathetic

Lawyers are taking action today in protest at the Scottish government's refusal to increase legal aid. It follows a request by the Law Society of Scotland for a 50 per cent increase in legal aid fees and a grant for struggling firms.

The Edinburgh Bar Association is to strike on St Andrew's Day next week, citing the failure of the Scottish government to take Scotland's legal aid situation seriously. On Monday 30 November, Edinburgh Sheriff Court will be open for custody business. Most staff will be paid an enhanced rate for work

The Scottish government has declined to increase legal aid fees or provide financial assistance to law firms that are currently struggling. Ministers rejected the Law Society of Scotland's suggested 50 per cent increase in legal aid fees but has agreed to increase fees for solicitors handling early

The Glasgow Bar Association (GBA) said it is "astonished" that the Scottish government has not yet offered any financial support for legal aid firms "despite what has now been months of consideration of the profession’s proposals". In a letter to Holyrood's Justice Committee, the GBA note

The Law Society of Scotland has responded to an open letter published in yesterday's edition of Scottish Legal News that decried the paltry fees paid by the Scottish Legal Aid Board to a law firm for its work on a Supreme Court case. Patricia Thom, co-convener of the Law Society of Scotland&rsq

Robert More makes some worrying predictions about legally aided criminal defence work in the wake of the lockdown. The Scottish government has recently released the response to its consultation on legal aid reform. The consultation was commissioned in light of the Independent Strategic Review by Mar