'This may cause chaos': Cork solicitors to resign from aid scheme
Solicitors in Cork, Ireland, are threatening to resign en masse from the criminal legal aid panel in protest of proposed fee changes. The Minister for Justice plans to replace per-appearance fees with a single flat-rate payment, which solicitors argue will disrupt the court system.
Why it matters
The mass resignation of legal aid solicitors threatens to cause significant delays and chaos within the Irish criminal justice system, potentially leaving many defendants without representation.
Solicitor Joseph Cuddigan announced the proposed escalation of the action by solicitors at Cork District Court yesterday. File picture: Larry Cummins
The article presents both the solicitors' concerns regarding the new fee structure and the Minister's justification for the change as a measure to improve efficiency.
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