Firm loses legal aid judicial review

A London firm specialising in immigration law this morning lost its judicial review challenge to the LSC's civil contract tender round at the Court of Appeal.

A spokesman for the LSC confirmed that the case, brought by City-based practice Azam & Co, had been dismissed.

It is understood the review related to the LSC's decision to inform firms about the civil tender round online, rather than in writing. Along with immigration, Azam & Co offers services in family law, crime, commercial property and employment.

Birmingham's Community Law Partnership discontinued its judicial review last week after the LSC agreed to reinstate its social welfare contract (see Solicitors Journal 154/33, 7 September 2010).

The High Court in Manchester will next week hear a judicial review challenge over the award of family legal aid contracts brought by Leeds civil practice Davies Gore Lomax.

Senior partner Keith Lomax told Solicitors Journal that the review concerned the LSC's failure to inform the firm about its appeal after it failed to win contracts in family and social welfare.

Lomax said the appeals were lodged at the start of August, but, with no decision after a month, the firm applied for judicial review.

'They've handled the whole thing with total disregard to the impact on firms and staff, who face a lengthy period of uncertainty,' Lomax said.

'People do not know whether they are going to be made redundant, whether they are going to be able to pay their mortgage and we don't know how to budget and organise the firm.'

The Law Society's judicial review of the award of family contracts by the LSC will be heard by the High Court the week after next.