Legal Services Commission rejects TOR in family funding review

The Legal Services Commission has rejected the terms of reference (TOR) submitted by the Law Society as part of its challenge to the new structure of family law funding.

This means the case - which was due to go before the courts yesterday and today (September 21st and 22nd) - has been postponed by 48 hours and will now be heard on Thursday and Friday of this week, reports Family Law Week.

Law Society objections centre on the way funding for legal aid has been distributed under the new system, which many claim is unfair.

A little more than half of firms working in the sector are to receive ongoing financial support from the Ministry of Justice and many argue legal services will be too restricted and clients will not have access to help when they need it.

Some have suggested the new system might throw up conflicts of interest, as too few family lawyers will be operating in any given area and crossover between cases may occur.