CLS news

The Legal Services Commission (LSC) today announced that all non-family legal aid contracts and family mediation contracts will start on 15 November 2010.

It also announced that all current ‘family only’ and ‘family with housing’ contracts will be extended until midnight on 14 December 2010. The quashing order issued by the High Court means that the LSC cannot proceed with awarding these contracts to providers who were successful in the recent tender.

The LSC is still waiting for the written judgment of the Law Society’s judicial review. In the meantime, it will meet with representative bodies over the next fortnight to discuss longer-term options for ‘family only’ and ‘family with housing’ contracts.

LSC Chief Executive Carolyn Downs said: “Our overwhelming priority is to give providers and, above all, legal aid clients certainty that access to justice will be maintained. We also want to continue to encourage dialogue with representative bodies to minimise any disruption.”

The LSC will produce more information for clients and providers as and when this becomes available