NATIONAL Law Society chief executive Des Hudson attacked the Legal Services Commission’s (LSC’s) consultation on best value tendering for criminal legal aid, describing it as having potentially “profound repercussions” in his speech to the Criminal Law Solicitors Association.
Mr Hudson described imposing BVT in criminal legal aid as being “akin to trying to fit a square peg through a round hole”. He added that he thought the effects would be felt not just by legal aid practitioners in England and Wales but also by those who relied on their services.
He called for the scheme to be more widely piloted, as the LSC had reassured during the first consultation for best value tendering.
He was joined by Society president Paul Marsh at the one-day conference at Church House Conference Centre, London.
