Press Release
Preferred Supplier pilot a success
13 September 2005
The Legal Services Commission (LSC) has today published a summary of its evaluation of the Preferred Supplier pilot.
The evaluation shows the Preferred Supplier pilot was a success for the LSC and the legal aid providers who were involved and has paved the way for a national roll out of the Preferred Supplier scheme.
The results, from evaluation of the first six months of the pilot (June – December 2004), will inform the development of the national scheme, due for implementation in 2006. A consultation paper outlining the LSC’s proposals for the national scheme is expected to be published before the end of the year. The Preferred Supplier scheme will radically change the way the LSC works with key legal aid providers.
The evaluation of the Preferred Supplier pilot shows:
- A partnership-based approach, where they have a designated LSC Relationship Manager, works well for suppliers: 96% of those participating described their relationship with the LSC as ‘better’ or ‘significantly better’ than before the pilot.
- A less intrusive approach with service providers is possible without compromising quality: supplier casework performance did not deteriorate throughout the pilot despite a lighter touch approach to auditing and assessment.
- Service providers’ main reason for wanting to join the scheme was access to long-term strategy information that gives them the confidence to plan their businesses.
- Improved customer service from the LSC (including, in the pilot, a 48-hour turnaround for all business processing) and the ability to make autonomous decisions about their clients’ cases are the benefits suppliers in the pilot most welcomed.
- Legal aid providers reported other improvements from being in the pilot scheme – mostly as a result of the support and influence of their Relationship Manager. For example, a number have already expanded their businesses thanks to increased referrals of clients and the ability to take on extra work after securing a trainee through the LSC’s training contract grant. Others now have greater confidence about the potential to grow.
- Average case costs did not increase or decrease for participating suppliers during the evaluation period. They indicated, however, that they would expect to save money from reduced transaction costs if the LSC were to further streamline its auditing and processing systems, as the pilot suggests is possible for the best suppliers.
- A majority of participating service providers (90%) support the use of independent Peer Review to assess the quality of work delivered.
Jonathan Lindley, Executive Director for Service Design at the LSC, says: “The results of the pilot have been overwhelmingly positive. We wanted to find creative solutions to legal aid supply and demand, improve the quality of advice clients receive, reduce the LSC’s and suppliers’ transaction costs and better understand one another’s businesses. The pilot has demonstrated that effective partnership working can achieve these outcomes and we now have the foundation for the development of a strong operational scheme.”
Penny Logan, Partner at H.C.L. Hanne & Co. solicitors, participating in the pilot, says: “After our initial reservations, we are very positive about our current relationship with the LSC through the Preferred Supplier pilot. The improved efficiency and dialogue between us has helped our practice, and more crucially, has indirectly benefited our clients.”
Media information
Sarah Farraway
Tel: 020 7759 0400
Email: sarah.farraway@legalservices.gov.uk
Richard Shand
Tel: 020 7759 0491
Email: richard.shand@legalservices.gov.uk
Notes to editors
1. The Evaluation Report Summary Findings will be available on the LSC website at: www.legalservices.gov.uk/civil/how/psp.asp from Wednesday 14 September.
2. The full evaluation report will be available shortly. Please contact Sarah Farraway or Richard Shand to request a copy.
3. The Preferred Supplier pilot continues, with ongoing pilot development, evaluation and validation ahead of operational implementation. The formal evaluation period lasted for six months and ran from mid June to mid December 2004.
4. 25 legal aid providers, operating over five LSC regions, are participating in the Preferred Supplier pilot and contributed to evaluation. These are:
West Midlands: Baches Solicitors, Owen Nash & Co, Rotherham & Co, Terry Jones Solicitors & Advocates, Williamson & Soden.
South East: Brighton Housing Trust – Housing Aid and Legal Centre, Edward Hayes, Francis Lovett, Hamnett Osborne Tisshaw, Wannop & Fox.
London: Ashley Smith & Co, Fisher Meredith, H C L Hanne & Co, T V Edwards, White Ryland.
North West: Burton Copeland, Forbes Solicitors, Green and Co, Platt Halpern Solicitors, Pluck Andrew & Co.
East Midlands: Bhatia Best, Cartwright King, Fraser Brown Solicitors, The Emery Johnson Partnership, The Johnson Partnership.
Last updated: 28 December 2006