Legal Aid

Justice minister Jim O'Callaghan has ruled out reversing his overhaul of the criminal legal aid system, insisting he will not return to a payment model under which solicitors could claim separate fees for each charge faced by a client. The reforms, introduced at the beginning of this month, replace

Solicitors at the Criminal Courts of Justice will withdraw from district court legal aid work for two days this week and a further three days next week as their dispute with justice minister Jim O'Callaghan over criminal legal aid reform continues. The action follows the introduction on July 1 of a

The Law Society has said there has been a "collapse" in criminal legal aid work since the introduction of a new flat-fee payment scheme, citing figures showing a sharp drop in legal aid certificates issued by the courts. Department of Justice figures show 174 criminal legal aid certificates, or bill

The Law Society of Ireland has called on Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan to engage with it to resolve the ongoing legal aid dispute after a new survey of 260 solicitors found only three intend to remain on the Criminal Legal Aid panel under the new payment scheme that took effect on 1 July. Un

Dozens of solicitors have resigned from Ireland’s criminal legal aid panel after the Government introduced a flat-fee payment system for district court cases. The Courts Service said 55 solicitors had left the panel since justice minister Jim O’Callaghan’s new €520 fixed fee f

Justice minister Jim O’Callaghan has rejected claims that solicitors are leaving the criminal legal aid scheme in large numbers following the introduction of fee reforms. The changes, which came into force this week, have prompted widespread disruption in District Courts, with cases adjourned

A solicitor has launched a High Court challenge against a controversial overhaul of criminal legal aid payments that has sparked widespread opposition from lawyers. John Quinn, of John M Quinn & Co Solicitors, is seeking to have the statutory instrument introducing the new payment model quashed.

The Law Society of Ireland has warned that criminal defence solicitors are resigning from legal aid panels after the justice minister confirmed he will proceed with the introduction of a flat-fee payment model from 1 July, despite continuing opposition from the profession. The latest warning comes a

Criminal court proceedings across Ireland face disruption this week after solicitors withdrew legal aid services in protest at planned changes to how they are paid. Solicitors involved in criminal legal aid work are expected to halt services on bail cases from today until Friday in the District Cour

Over 150 solicitors attended an information meeting at the Law Society of Ireland to address their concerns around mounting access to justice challenges with proposed changes to the criminal legal aid system. 

Northern Ireland justice minister Naomi Long has agreed to accept all recommendations made by the accelerated review of criminal legal aid. In a written ministerial statement, she said she will now take the necessary steps to implement:

There is overwhelming opposition to proposed changes to the criminal legal aid scheme that would see the current appearances-based system replaced with a flat-fee model for District Court criminal cases, according to a new survey. The findings come from a Gazette poll of more than 200 criminal law s

The Legal Services Agency (LSANI) has extended its stakeholder communication survey to April 30.  Stakeholders are invited to participate in the survey which aims to gather insight on communication preferences and practices.

Northern Ireland's Department of Justice is seeking views on opportunities to simplify and speed up processes relating to legal aid. Justice minister Naomi Long has published two public engagement papers as part of the 'Enabling Access to Justice' reform programme.

Pádraig Langsch sets out proposals to improve efficiency in the District Court without sacrificing fairness. In my last opinion published on 26 February in Irish Legal News, I commented on the minister for justice’s proposal to introduce a flat‑fee system in District Court criminal le