The Law Society is preparing a high court challenge against the Legal Services Commission’s family tender process.

Chancery Lane today informed the LSC of its intention to seek a judicial review of the exercise, which has slashed the number of firms able to do family law work from 2400 to 1300.

Law Society president Linda Lee said: ‘In reaching this decision we are conscious of the difficulties for firms that were unsuccessful. We are also acutely aware of the difficulty taking action will cause those successful firms who are planning to expand their businesses either by volume, new work type or a new geographic location, and we thought very carefully about the consequences of taking action.

‘As a profession, we accept and are proud of an ethical code that is higher than pure commercial considerations. We have a duty to protect the public interest. A reduction in access to justice cannot be in the public interest, particularly when it affects the most vulnerable people in society, those who are seeking to establish their basic rights.’

Lee added: ‘The Law Society remains ready and willing to talk with the Legal Services Commission and the Ministry of Justice to avoid litigation and urgently resolve these issues. However, if an agreement cannot be reached, then we will bring the proceedings before the High Court.’