Duncan Lewis Solicitors has received significant media coverage following the withdrawal of the judicial review claim against the Lord Chancellor in June 2024. The claim challenged the government’s failure or refusal to raise the Legal Aid rates for ‘controlled work’ in the field of immigration and asylum (‘Controlled Immigration Work’), or to take any other action capable of addressing the serious problems with the provision of this form of legal aid in a timely and effective way (‘the Claim’).
This development comes after the Lord Chancellor committed to making a decision on raising legal aid rates by the end of November, followed by a consultation on the issue should she make a decision to raise rates.
The case has been highlighted in leading publications, including the Financial Times, The Law Gazette, Free Movement, The Times and Law360, underscoring its importance within the legal profession.
Discussed in the Law Gazette, a Ministry of Justice Spokesperson said: ‘‘The new government has inherited a justice system in crisis and we are committed to working with the legal profession to ensure the legal aid sector is on a sustainable footing, both now and in the future. We have conducted a review of the civil legal aid system and are carefully considering options for reform, including for immigration and asylum cases.’
The Legal Aid Practitioners’ Group, a membership body representing legal aid practitioners in England and Wales and the clients they serve, stated in an email update to their members:
This is a very impressive result for Duncan Lewis and for the many individuals and organisations who supported this claim. It also signals a significant shift in approach by the current Ministerial team, which we hope will translate into a sensible decision in November and a rational set of proposals in the forthcoming consultation on fees.
As we await the outcome in November, Duncan Lewis remains committed to ensuring that legal aid providers can continue to represent the most vulnerable members of society without sustaining unsustainable financial losses.
UK Settles Legal Aid Fee Dispute with Immigration Lawyers – The Financial Times
Duncan Lewis and Lord Chancellor settle Legal Aid Row – Law Gazette
Mahmood must Act Quickly to Avoid Legal Aid Mutiny – Law Gazette
Lord Chancellor Settles Challenge to Immigration and Asylum Legal Aid Rates - FreeMovement
Duncan Lewis Settles Legal Aid Fee Case Against UK Gov. – Law360
Pressure mounts on justice secretary to boost legal aid budget - The Times
Duncan Lewis Solicitors was represented by Toufique Hossain, Jeremy Bloom, Nina Kamp and Elizabeth Cole, and instructed Chris Buttler KC, Eleanor Mitchell and Jack Boswell at Matrix Chambers as counsel in the Claim.
Duncan Lewis has the leading public law and immigration practice in the UK. The team frequently takes on and successfully brings challenges in some of the most high profile cases in the UK, including in relation to the Rwanda plan and Manston House. The company was recently crowned Law Firm of the Year 2024 at the LexisNexis awards, and noted for its commitment to providing justice for all.
Duncan Lewis is renowned for its exceptional legal services and commitment to justice. The company employs a team of highly skilled solicitors offering top-tier representation in 25 fields of law, and ranked as top tier by the Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500 legal guides, and as one of the top 250 law firms in the country by the Times.