Public Law Solicitors

Duncan Lewis Solicitors ongoing legal action against the Government concerning legal aid fees for immigration and asylum work has been featured in the Law Gazette.

The company is challenging the Lord Chancellor in the High Court over the failure to raise legal aid rates for ‘immigration and asylum controlled work’ or to address the provision issues in a timely and effective manner. The clear reason for this is that there has been a 48% real-terms cut in the rates payable for this kind of work since 1996, the last time that rates were increased.

This case amplifies the struggles faced by vulnerable individuals, such as unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and victims of domestic and sexual violence, in finding legal representation.

Jeremy Bloom, the lead solicitor on this case, highlighted the unsustainable nature of the current legal aid rates to the Gazette, noting that the firm has incurred significant financial losses over recent years.

Despite a substantial increase in asylum applications, the number of matters handled by civil legal aid providers has not kept pace.

Last year, the Government embarked on a major civil legal aid review, which includes a focus on immigration and asylum work. A 'green paper' is expected to be published this summer, which will precede yet another consultation. Bloom noted that final decisions would only follow the consultation, and no commitment to increase fees having been made yet.

He added that 'yet another review is too little too late. Action needs to be taken urgently, otherwise those who need it the most will continue to be unable to find lawyers.'

The judicial review claim is supported by witness evidence from Wilson Solicitors, Care4Calais, and Women Against Rape.

The Duncan Lewis team involved in this judicial review includes Toufique Hossain, Nina Kamp, and Elizabeth Cole, who have instructed Matrix Chambers' Chris Buttler KC, Eleanor Mitchell, and Jack Boswell.

For detailed information on the case read the full article in the Law Gazette.

Duncan Lewis Solicitors

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.