Barristers' leaders are calling on the government to postpone radical changes to the system of civil legal aid.

The government wants to replace the existing system of state funding in certain types of case with a 'no-win no-fee' arrangement.

The Bar Council strongly disagrees with Lord Irvine's proposals

The Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine, announced last October that most claims for money or damages are to be excluded from the civil legal aid system.

Instead, lawyers would receive what are called conditional fees: nothing if they lose their cases but an extra fee if they win.

The Bar Council strongly disagrees with these proposals.

In a response to be launched on Thursday, barristers' leaders argue that the poorest members of society will be denied access to justice if legal aid is abolished for money claims.

It has also emerged that a government consultation paper which was due to be published within the next few weeks has been delayed by a month.

It means that conditional fees will not replace legal aid until May or June at the earliest.

The Lord Chancellor's Department said ministers still intended to go ahead with their proposals but they would spend more time than expected consulting lawyers and others experts about the details.
 

Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage	©