Under the plan, the government would have cut the number of law firms getting criminal Legal Aid contracts from 1,600 to 400. The contracts would have gone to practices offering the lowest rates. But an outcry from firms has led to the government rethinking the scheme in co-operation with the Law Society. 

Quality standards

Imran Khan, the solicitor representing the family of murdered black teenager Stephen Lawrence, had said that his firm might have one of many which would have had to close. Under the new scheme, an 'unlimited' number of law firms will be eligible to provide criminal Legal Aid as long as they meet or exceed quality standards, according to The Evening Standard.