Glasgow lawyers accept legal aid deal- reluctantly
Bar Association calls off threat to boycott sex offender cases
The Glasgow Bar Association has called off its threat to withdraw from acting in cases involving sex offence charges, after voting to accept, but only "reluctantly", the Executive's improved interim offer of increased legal aid payments.
A meeting yesterday evening agreed to accept the deal, which gives an extra 8% on court and 12% on non-court rates for solemn criminal work. The current fees were set in 1992.
Gerry McClay, President of the GBA, said that members were disappointed with the offer but accepted on the basis of a statement by the Deputy Justice Minister Hugh Henry that extra funds would be made available for the new system.
Rates of payment are under review by the Scottish Legal Aid Board in the wake of the Bonomy reforms introduced last year.
The decision not to act in sex offence cases, which was followed by many other local associations of solicitors across Scotland, could have seriously affected the prosecution of offenders as the accused in such cases are not allowed to represent themselves.
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