I write in relation to the SRA’s decision to impose the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocacy on criminal litigation.

The reasoning by Mr Plant as to why this scheme is required is far from clear. Those who practise in the criminal courts on a daily basis will agree that the quality of representation is high, and it appears that the SRA is looking for a problem that does not exist.

Solicitors who practise criminal litigation are currently heavily regulated with the entry requirements in relation to police and court duty solicitors. Why this additional (no doubt expensive) burden is to be imposed on criminal litigation lawyers is hard to understand.

Alaibi Adoki, Burnley-Jones Bate & Co, Wimbledon