Justice Minister ‘choking legal aid system’, says Cork solicitor
Solicitors in Ireland are withdrawing from free legal aid panels in protest against new government reforms that introduce a flat-rate fee system. Lawyers argue the changes are unsustainable and will negatively impact vulnerable clients who require extensive legal support.
Why it matters
The strike threatens the functionality of the criminal justice system and highlights tensions between government cost-cutting and access to legal representation.
Changes to the system have introduced a €520 flat rate given to solicitors for a free legal aid case. Previously, solicitors were given a roughly €240 fee for a first appearance for a client and around €60 for every subsequent sitting. Picture: Dan Linehan
The article focuses heavily on the solicitors' perspective and the potential negative impact on vulnerable populations.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in