Legal aid dispute between solicitors, minister resolved

The dispute between criminal legal aid solicitors and the Minister for Justice over a new payment scheme has been resolved.

Solicitors have been in dispute with the department for almost five months over a new flat fee payment for legal aid cases.

Parts of the new scheme were described as unfair and illogical in a High Court ruling last week.

In a statement the Minister for Justice said he had reached agreement with the Law Society after extensive talks between the parties.

Judge Mary Rose Gearty, who was due to make final rulings in a challenge to the regulations granted a two week adjournment to the Minister earlier today after being told talks were ongoing.

She said nothing could be better than reaching an accommodation.

More to follow...