Solicitors' services withdrawal to escalate over new fees model

Criminal defense solicitors are escalating their withdrawal of services, with thousands of cases unable to proceed and special court sittings affected. The protest is set to intensify from Monday, potentially impacting custody cases in addition to bail cases.

“

perform an essential constitutional function and are entitled to be treated as professionals who act in the interests of their clients and not blamed for delays which are fundamentally the consequence of inadequate resourcing of the wider criminal justice system.

This action follows the Department of Justice informing the Law Society that a new payment model for legal aid cases in District Courts will be implemented as planned from July 1st. Solicitors who met in Dublin were told department officials appeared directed not to engage in meaningful consultation.

“

constructive engagement

Garda headquarters fears that suspects charged with serious crimes may later seek to derail prosecutions, claiming they lacked legal advice after arrest due to the service withdrawal. The Law Society has urged caution and called for "genuine, structured consultation and engagement" with the department, deeming the proposals "unworkable" and predicting an exodus from criminal legal aid work.

“

remains open to further engagement in advance of the new arrangements coming into effect on July 1st.

A department spokeswoman described "constructive engagement" and stated the department "remains open to further engagement." She added that the reform aims at improving efficiencies, speeding up case resolution, and reducing unnecessary adjournments while ensuring fair remuneration. The scheduling of cases, she noted, is independent and courts can adjourn matters in the absence of legal representatives.

“

is aimed primarily at improving efficiencies, speeding up case resolution, and reducing unnecessary adjournments, while ensuring fair, faster and sustainable remuneration for legal practitioners.