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Court prints details of solicitors willing to working for new legal aid rates

There is a backlog of court cases in Northern Ireland as many solicitors have refused to do legal aid work in protest at Justice Minister David Ford's attempt to cut 25% of the overall legal aid budget.

They have argued it is impossible to represent a client properly under the new rates. Mr Ford had asked solicitors who were willing to work under the new conditions to write to his department to be placed on a list of solicitors available to work. Out of about 500 solicitors' firms in the province, there are 16 on the list.

The stand off between Mr Ford and many solicitors has created a backlog, and defendants have complained to judges that they are entitled to legal aid but unable to find any lawyer willing to represent them.

Mr Ford has argued that all cuts were necessary and that the previous payments were unsustainable in the current economic climate, he also states that new rates are comparable with England and Wales.

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