Criminal defence solicitors warn legal aid withdrawal may extend into new court year

Solicitors acting for criminal defence firms, led by Ferrys LLP, have sent letters to the Chief Justice and the presidents of the High, Circuit and District Courts warning that their refusal to operate under the new criminal legal-aid payment model may continue into the new legal year starting October 5. The conflict centers on a flat €520 fee per client, which they say forces lawyers to work for free in complex cases, and on the Justice Minister’s lack of substantive engagement, with the minister indicating he will not discuss the issue until after a pending High Court judicial review.

The solicitors state they will only provide services for custody and child-related matters when the term begins, acknowledging the inconvenience to complainants, victims and the courts. The withdrawal, which began partially in mid-June and expanded on July 1, has already caused thousands of adjournments and a sharp drop in legal-aid certificates compared with the previous year. Court officials warn that continued withdrawal could severely hamper the handling of serious criminal trials, including rape and murder cases. The Department of Justice has been contacted for comment.