A dispute over fixed fees could result in cases being hit by major delays, affecting alleged victims and the accused.
From 3 May, most solicitors nationwide will now refuse to take on summary cases brought under Section 1 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2018.In 2020-21, nearly 1,600 charges were reported under Section 1, accounting for close to 5% of all domestic abuse charges.
The Scottish Solicitors' Bar Association says its members receive the same fee for representing someone accused of years of abusive behaviour as they would for someone accused of a single- punch assault. Criminal legal aid is generally available if the situation is serious , and if the person can't afford to pay for legal representation for themselves.
The Scottish government's community safety minister, Ash Regan, said ministers were committed to reforming legal aid."I think you could always look back and say things should have been done differently," she said. "What I would say is that since I've been in post, I've given consistent fee rate rises. I have listened to what the profession has said.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
A TV star, a chief inspector: abuse survivors look the world in the eye in remarkable projectAs the I Am project by photographer Allie Crewe launches in Manchester, actor Sam Beckinsale and Chief Inspector Sharon Baker talk about the impact of domestic abuse on their lives
Read more »
Wrongly convicted subpostmasters still awaiting compensation one year onNeil Hudgell, the lawyer leading compensation negotiations, has called for cases to be settled by the end of the year.
Read more »
Wrongly convicted subpostmasters still awaiting compensation one year onPost Office workers implicated in the Horizon IT scandal have revealed they are no closer to gaining compensation a year after the first convictions were overturned
Read more »
Why the Johnny Depp v Amber Heard defamation trial is being held in VirginiaWashington Post computer servers allowed Depp lawyers to sue in commonwealth
Read more »
Massachusetts Cold Case Unit Wants to ID Cases Back to '80sA Massachusetts county’s cold case unit is working to identify a dozen unidentified bodies or skeletal remains that have been found through the years, some dating back nearly four decades. Bristol County Attorney Thomas Quinn III says traditional methods using fingerprints or dental records have not resulted in their identification. At least two cases were determined to be homicides. Two…
Read more »
Spreading COVID-19 Outbreak Stokes Fear of Beijing LockdownRising cases in Beijing spark jitters about an unprecedented lockdown of China's capital
Read more »