2 March 2015
The Court of Appeal has granted the Law Society and practitioner groups permission to appeal a High Court decision that dismissed challenges to the legal aid reforms.
It comes after the recent proposals by the justice secretary, Chris Grayling, to reduce contracts for lawyers attending magistrates courts and police stations in England and Wales, from 1,600 to 527.
Earlier this month the Law Society, CLSA and LCCSA London lost their High Court battle against Chris Grayling’s decision to press ahead with two-tier contracts for criminal legal aid.
But in a hearing with Lord Justice Laws on 27th February 2015, the Law Society and practitioner groups were left feeling relieved after it was decided that they will be able to take their fight to the Court of Appeal.
Our Director Bill Waddington, who is Chair of the CLSA, said: “Thank you to everyone who has supported the cause of access to justice. We are so pleased to have achieved this victory for you.”
