The Ministry of Justice has named a wide-ranging panel of legal experts - including a former co-chair of the Law Society’s criminal law committee - to test and challenge the recommendations made by the independent review into criminal legal aid.

The review, looking at the system in its entirety, is being led by competition lawyer and former judge Sir Christopher Bellamy. The Ministry of Justice said the panel, revealed by the lord chancellor earlier this month, will test and challenge the review's emerging findings and recommendations.

The panel includes: Tuckers managing partner Richard Atkinson, immediate past co-chair of the Society’s criminal law committee; Bill Waddington, former chair of the Criminal Law Solicitors Association; solicitor and deputy High Court judge Margaret Obi, a former member of the Society's criminal law committee; Crispin Passmore, a former director at the Solicitors Regulation Authority; and Dr Natalie Byrom, director of research at the Legal Education Foundation.

Bellamy said: ‘I look forward to undertaking my role as the chair and am very grateful to the panel members who have agreed to advise me on the analysis, findings and any proposed recommendations of the review.

Having a panel of experts with a range of backgrounds, skills and legal experience is vital in ensuring a thorough review of the criminal legal aid system.’

The independent review will look at how to ensure the system provides high quality legal advice and representation through a diverse set of practitioners as well as other factors.

Last year lord chancellor Robert Buckland announced ‘quick wins’ that would inject up to £51m a year into criminal legal aid.

Yesterday, he said: ‘I am grateful to Sir Christopher Bellamy and his esteemed panel for undertaking this vital piece of work which will play a crucial role in ensuring the long-term sustainability of the criminal legal aid market.’

The review will report by the end of the year alongside the government’s response. The Law Society has called for an interim across-the-board increase in legal aid fees to prevent the system from collapsing before the independent review reports.

Law Society president David Greene said he was pleased to see the panel include a number of practitioners 'very knowledgeable' about the issues facing the profession.

He added: 'The review must focus on ensuring a criminal justice system that delivers a fair trial and justice for all, including defendants and victims. The role of defence solicitors is crucial to that. Legal aid practitioners must be paid properly, and their businesses must be economically viable, otherwise the system will collapse.'

The full list of panel members: Sir Christopher Bellamy QC (panel chair), Professor Sue Arrowsmith QC, Richard Atkinson, Kate Aubrey Johnson, Professor Chris Bones, Dr Natalie Byrom, Jo Cecil, Anita Charlesworth CBE, Professor Dame Hazel Genn DBE, QC (Hon), FBA, LLD, The Right Honourable Baroness Hallett DBE, Neil Hawes QC, Dr Vicky Kemp, Professor Stephen Mayson, Margaret Obi, Crispin Passmore, Professor Neil Rickman, Bill Waddington, Dr Kevin Wong.