Legal Aid Solicitor question

January

So, just curious, someone made this claim on a Facebook group today

People be very mindful that most solicitors that work for legal aid is because they've are banned from running their own practice. Solicitors are only interested in lining their own pockets, not you're problems.

No, I am very doubtful this is true, but would like to know for sure.

Can someone answer this?

hullaballoo

Total rubbish.

That's pretty much all there is to say about it but if there's something else you want to know, fire away.

January

Well there's not much else other than I can't find anything online to rebuff her claim and she's saying she has plenty proof but won't post it.

January

But I shall tell you this, from my own experiences. X who is a solicitor with the legal aid (was in X now X) owned a legal firm in X and was caught swindling clients money, the only way they can still practice law is for them to do so under the watch of the legal aid board. My source who told me that when I had dealings with them was the Judge! He actually advised me to represent myself, which I did so many yrs ago. Since then many many cases of corrupted solicitors has come to light, some struck off some still allowed to practice, but only through legal aid!

Never mind, this is the reply I got back... tells me everything I need to know about this person. Names removed obviously to protect identity of the person she's posting about.

Victor

Do I have it right that some solicitors are restricted, due to poor professional performance (not necessarily something dishonest or criminal, maybe they have / had health issues and their work suffered) and can only act under the supervision of another solicitor (of good standing).

This all being very separate to the Legal Aid Board, who would likely only do superficial supervision (but lots of administration) of the solicitors on their panel.

I know of one solicitor who did mostly Legal Aid work who went onto be a judge.

Dandelion6

under the watch of the legal aid board

Proof this person doesn't know what they're talking about.

Happy Monday

Most of the cases presented in the criminal courts involve legal aid.

All solicitors and barristers practicing in these courts across the country accept legal aid.

Pat Mustard

The Legal Aid Board is for civil legal aid, not criminal. Criminal legal aid work is dealt with by private solicitors and barristers who are paid by the Criminal Legal scheme run by the Dept of Justice.

I've heard of solicitors having to be supervised by another solicitor in practice but I've never heard of a Legal Aid Board solicitor supervising anybody.

The fact that this Facebook lady keeps all of her 'evidence' to herself tells me much of what I need to know about her.

And I've never ever heard of a judge who advised somebody to represent themselves. It makes the judge's job much easier when there is competent representation.

blackwhite

January wrote: »

..........she's saying she has plenty proof but won't post it.

Generally, that should be enough to know that someone's spouting nonsense