A preliminary analysis of the proposals published by the Legal ServicesCommission alongside Lord Carter's report indicates that the proposedpayment scheme is almost certain to result in a further erosion in thenumber of solicitors able to represent children in proceedings in whichtheir welfare is at stake.
The provision of high-quality advice and representation by specialistpractitioners is essential if the welfare, safety and rights of childrenare to be effectively safeguarded. The proposed payment scheme appearsfundamentally to undermine that proposition.
It should be plain that a payment scheme that reduces the number ofspecialist solicitors able to run economically-viable practicesrepresenting children and families is an entirely false economy, is badfor children, bad for society and bad for the country as a whole.
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