Lump sum fees

The Legal Services Commission is to run a Family Help pilot scheme in Cardiff, Lincoln, Nottingham, Mansfield, Hartlepool, Stockton and Newcastle, under which solicitors with two years or more experience will receive a lump sum fee of £1,100 if a matrimonial case settles or £280 if it does not settle for all work up to the settlement or court hearing. For lawyers with less than two years’ experience it will be £740 and £185 respectively. Christina Blacklaws, chairwoman of the Law Society’s Family Law Committee, has said: ‘The pilot is voluntary, and I hope solicitors will not take part.’ David Emmerson, of Resolution said: ‘The fees look spectacularly low – in fact they look as though they have a decimal point missing.’