Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Justice to detail any steps she is taking to ensure that reform of the legal aid policies and payments system will attract and retain an increased diversity of practitioners, to provide legal aid services.
Minister of Justice: His Honor Tom Burgess CBE led an independent review of criminal legal aid. This holistic review of the structure and associated remuneration levels of the criminal legal aid framework resulted in several proposals including a 16% uplift to fees which I also committed to grant to civil and family legal work.
Additionally, increases to remuneration for police station advice and parole matters are being progressed along with early payment of disbursements, interim payments and a refresher fee pilot to aid the financial viability of smaller firms and career progression particularly for women and younger members of the professions.
Furthermore, officials are advancing enhanced payment for travelling time and mileage rates. This will particularly support the viability of legal representatives working in more rural areas of Northern Ireland, where travel is often a bigger part of the job. The aim is that this will sustain the availability of legal practices in the towns and on the high streets, providing citizens with access to justice.
By enhancing legal aid remuneration rates, the Department are making criminal, civil and family legal work more attractive. Proper, proportionate remuneration is critical to ensure an enduring profession and effective access to justice. The necessary steps to deliver increased legal aid fees are being progressed by officials across the department including finalising the business case which also covers the wider Enabling Access to Justice Delivery Programme.
It must be acknowledged that a robust and enduring profession is not solely contingent on fees alone and that legal aid is only one income stream available to practitioners. The legal professions must also be proactive in supporting and encouraging more people to enter this area to ensure long-term viability. It is not solely a matter for the Department.
Professional bodies need to ensure there is a proactive approach taken to succession planning. They must ensure that their training models build capacity, support inclusivity and nurture talent. The professions have already taken some steps in that regard.
Work is continuing with the professional bodies and local associations to identify whether there are any other actions that will ensure the continued availability of high-quality advice and representation. A commitment to progressing extended rights of audience to increase capacity has already been made.
ENDS
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