Letter: No win, no fee
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: Robert Willer (Letters, 28 November) argues that the Government's proposals for the reform of legal aid and extension of conditional fee agreements will benefit only large law firms. He suggests that small firms "may be crippled" if they lose even a few cases brought with conditional fees. I believe he is wrong on both counts.
On his first point, it is true that the Government's proposals, particularly block contracting, will encourage specialisation by lawyers. I see nothing wrong with that. Through block contracting, legal aid expenditure will be concentrated on services provided by competent, experienced advisers. Taxpayers' money should be spent on buying high-quality services from lawyers who have a thorough understanding of the law at issue. Privately funded clients would expect nothing less. There is no reason why a small firm should not benefit from greater specialisation, just as a large one can.
In the post-reform world, I believe there will still be a place for small firms in small towns to offer a valuable, general service. But the availability of legal aid funding will depend in large part on the plans which are made by local people in the Regional Legal Services Committees.
On Mr Willer's second point, both large and small firms will need to develop a more sophisticated understanding of assessing and managing risk; and it may well be true that some firms will not adapt and will not survive. As the Lord Chancellor said in Cardiff, conditional fees are about taking the rough with the smooth. There is no reason why a well-managed, competent small firm should not find itself better off, not worse off, by using conditional fees.
GEOFFREY HOON MP
Parliamentary Secretary
Lord Chancellor's Department
London SE1
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments