Progress
Timetable
Areas of work
Stakeholder engagment
Support
Timetable
13 Jul 06
Final report published: Legal Aid: A market-based approach to reform
9 Feb 06
Interim report published: Procurement of Criminal Defence Services: Market-based reform
Areas of work
A significant amount of work was carried out to understand in detail the way legal services have been delivered and how new and more efficient ways of working could be achieved with the help of new procurement systems. The main areas of work were:
- a study of the workflows, roles and responsibilities and how they relate to expenditure, income, efficiency and productivity of the legal professions in delivering legal aid services based on a survey of the practices and profiles of a range legal service providers selected in discussion with the Law Society, Bar Council and Legal Services Commission;
- the development of a clearer understanding of the systems, procedures, quality control mechanisms and cost-drivers involved with legal aid work and how these compare to the way justice is delivered in other countries; and
- the development of possible future models for procuring and delivering publicly funded legal services in England and Wales including consideration of impact and requirements on supply and demand drivers.
Stakeholder engagement
The review was carried out with close engagement of the professions and the representative bodies, the judiciary and the relevant government departments and agencies. In particular, the review was reliant on the considerable knowledge, expertise and help made available by the Legal Services Commission. Lord Carter emphasised the importance of this engagement by stating:
"Since 5 July, my team and I have met with a number of figures from the legal professions and have gained valuable insight into the important role they play, and the current legal aid issues facing all stakeholders. I have been very impressed by the willingness of the professions, LSC, DCA and others involved to support and become engaged in the review, and I welcome their commitment to continue their engagement as I proceed".
A wide range of written views were also submitted to the review from the professions and the public in response to notices placed in the national press. Letters of appreciation from Lord Carter can be downloaded below:
Letter from Lord Carter to the Bar Council - September 2005 [PDF 27kb, 1 page]
Letter from Lord Carter to the Law Society - September 2005 [PDF 26kb, 1 page]
Support
In addition to the advice and support of the relevant professional bodies, the review was supported by a group of senior figures from the commercial and legal worlds. This group consisted of:
Guy Beringer: Guy has been a partner of Allen & Overy since 1985 and was elected Senior Partner in 1999 and again in 2004. Allen & Overy is an international legal practice comprising approximately 4800 staff.
David Gregson: David is Chairman of Phoenix Equity Partners, which he co-founded in 1991. Phoenix is now one of the leading mid-market private equity businesses in the UK. David has also been a director of 15 public and private companies to date, and has been involved in the supporting of nearly 100 private companies in the UK across most sectors of the economy. David is Chairman of the Jane Goodall Institute, the leading UK conservation and education charity. He has an MBA from Manchester Business School/New York University and a degree in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University.
David Ross: David studied Law at Nottingham University and subsequently qualified as a Chartered Accountant. He is chairman of the National Express Group, deputy chairman of the Carphone Warehouse Group PLC, non-executive director of the Big Yellow Group PLC and Trinity Mirror PLC and a member of Sport England.