TWO VOICES

SCOTTISH LAWYERS’ BOYCOTT OF DOMESTIC ABUSE CASES

Julia Mcpartlin,

Scottish Solicitors’ Bar Association president

Legal aid rates were fixed about 20 years ago and have barely changed since. These tend to be cases that go on over a number of days, so that involves a great deal of preparation, which the fixed fee isn’t fit for

Ash Regan,

Community safety minister

Since I’ve been in post, I’ve given consistent fee rate rises. I have listened to what the profession has said. This is a serious escalation. There are real victims that are going to be impacted by this, so I want to send out that message that the government is willing to carry on talking to see if we can find a resolution to this