Pressing for increased fees should top the agenda for the barrister and retired judge announced as chair of the Criminal Legal Aid Advisory Board, lawyers have said, welcoming the long-awaited appointment.

Deborah Taylor, a former senior circuit judge, who retired as resident judge at Southwark Crown Court and recorder of Westminster last December, has been announced as chair of board – a position that the profession has been waiting for almost 10 months since the board first met last October.

Set up following the recommendation of the government’s independent review of criminal legal aid by Lord Bellamy - now a government minister - it is designed to advise the lord chancellor on criminal legal aid and ensure that practitioners have input into its development. The government is not bound to accept the board’s recommendations.

Taylor, who is the daughter of the late lord chief justice Lord Peter Taylor of Gosforth and a former commercial barrister, will hold the post for 18 months. 

Lord chancellor Alex Chalk said that her ‘extensive experience in criminal law will be invaluable to the board as we continue our work to strengthen the legal aid system’.

The board, which includes representatives from the Law Society, Bar Council, London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association (LCCSA), Criminal Law Solicitors’ Association (CLSA), Criminal Bar Association (CBA) and Ministry of Justice, has met three times.

Deborah Taylor

Deborah Taylor will hold the post for 18 months

Source: Avalon

Taylor’s appointment was welcomed by the Law Society and Bar Council and by the criminal lawyers’ representative groups who had their first meeting with Taylor this week.

Fadi Daoud, LCCSA president, told the Gazette: ‘We are pleased with her appointment. She was extremely capable and well-respected when sitting on the bench and has always indicated that she is alive to and has taken on board solicitors’ concerns.’

Daniel Bonich, CLSA president, added: ‘She already appears to have a grasp of many of the issues, including addressing the growing advice deserts.’ 

Both groups stressed the need for the government to act on Bellamy's November 2021 recommendation for a 15% uplift, especially in the light of the subsequent rise in inflation. 

Kirsty Brimelow KC, chair of the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), said: ‘I am delighted that we finally have a chair and one of Her Honour Judge Taylor’s expertise and experience of the criminal justice system.’ Brimelow stressed that ‘full implementation’ of the deal between the CBA and Ministry of Justice ‘has to remain a priority’. This includes an increase to payment for pre-recorded cross-examination in rape cases, payment for the special preparation done by barristers in complex cases and payment for wasted preparation when trials do not go ahead.

 

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