Technical problems at the Legal Services Commission delayed payments that were due to all legal aid solicitors at the start of the year.

The payment systems at the LSC went down for a day and a half, which meant the BACS payment run that was due on 6 January did not take place until 8 January. This affected civil, crime and standard monthly payments (SMP). The LSC has confirmed that all payments have now been made.

Hugh Barrett, executive director for commissioning at the LSC, apologised for any inconvenience caused in an email sent to providers. Law Society chief executive Desmond Hudson sent a letter to the banks notifying them of the temporary problem and asking them to assist firms.

In an email to council members, Hudson recommended that if any firm has suffered a loss as a result of the problem, for example by incurring additional bank charges, it should seek recovery of those costs from the LSC.