Publication - Minutes

Legal Aid Payment Advisory Panel minutes: November 2019

Published: 27 January 2020
Directorate: Justice Directorate
Topic: Equality and rights, Law and order
Date of meeting: 12 November 2019
Location: Thistle House, Edinburgh

Minutes from the sixth meeting of Legal Aid Payment Advisory Panel, held on 12 November 2019.

Attendees and apologies

Attendees

Neil Rennick, Chair
Ruth Innes QC, Faculty of Advocates
Paul Brown, Scottish Association of Law Centres
Colin Lancaster, Scottish Legal Aid Board
Raymond McMenamin, Scottish Legal Aid Board
Gillian Fyfe, Citizens Advice Scotland
Professor Frank Stephen, University of Manchester
Ronald Renucci QC, Faculty of Advocates
Mark Thorley, Law Society of Scotland
Ian Moir, Law Society of Scotland
Matt Taylor, Scottish Legal Aid Board

Scottish Government Official

Denise Swanson, Head of Access to Justice
Kieran Burke, Bill Team Lead, Access to Justice
Steven Ing, Economic Advisor, Justice Analytical Services
Rebecca Smith, Legal Services Regulation, Access to Justice

Apologies

Ross Yuill, Society of Solicitor Advocates
Professor Graeme Roy, University of Strathclyde
Professor Mike Danson, Economist

Items and actions

Welcome

The Chair opened and welcomed members to the sixth meeting.

Remit and Expected Outcomes

The purpose of the meeting was to recognise what the panel had considered to date and identify the further steps that need to be undertaken as we move forward. For the 6th meeting, the Chair asked for reflections from those members with an economics background, to capture their insight around the presentations and discussions that have taken place so far.

Agenda Item 1: Reflections from Economist Panel Members

Professor Frank Stephen presented an engaging presentation, primarily around the legal aid payment models, and his reflections so far sparking valuable discussions within the panel. The presentation focussed on Mr Stephens’ research, from his own perspective which comes from a focus of a nature of law firms. There was also a brief paper tabled on behalf of Professor Mike Danson.

Agenda Item 2: SLAB: Segmentation Data/Summary

Matt Taylor provided the panel with descriptive paper on segmentation data.

Agenda Item 3: SLAB’s Contracting Paper

Prior to the last meeting ,SLAB circulated a paper on Contracting. It was agreed that the panel revisit the paper at this meeting, having had more time to consider its contents.

Next meeting –Wednesday 8 January 2020, Legal Services Agency.