Courts Face Chaos Over Legal Bans

The Age

Friday November 21, 2008

PETER GREGORY

VICTORIAN courts could face chaos as solicitors threaten to ban basic legal aid work for criminal cases in protest over low pay.

The proposed bans - expected to be debated tonight at an annual meeting of criminal lawyers - are likely to lead to court delays and cost increases.

The proposal follows a report published last month in which Victorian barristers described legal aid fees as "enforced poverty for lawyers", and said they would prefer to work for free than be insulted by the low payment.

In a statement yesterday, Law Institute of Victoria president Tony Burke said inexperienced solicitors were working in criminal cases for as little as 15% of the normal private rate.

He said they were also being forced to perform free administrative work previously undertaken by Victoria Legal Aid.

Last year, private solicitors provided work in 16,000 of the state's 25,000 legally aided criminal cases.

© 2008 The Age

Back to News Index | Back to Home