Summary
CRIMINAL legal aid to Scotland's top lawyers has more than doubled in the past five years, a report revealed yesterday.
Advocates and solicitor advocates, who represent people accused of the most serious crimes, such as murder, rape, drug-trafficking and fraud, were paid GBP 13.95 million from the public purse in 2004- 5, compared with GBP 6.85 million in 2000-1.See the full content of this document
Extract
Legal Aid Bill Doubles for Serious Criminal Cases
Over the same period, legal aid payments to solicitors who deal with the vast bulk of cases, mainly in the sheriff courts, rose from GBP 57.17 million to GBP 74.95 million - an increase of 31 per cent.
The report also identifies the top-earning advocates and legal firms. As The Scotsman revealed yesterday, Paul McBride, QC, earned the most legal aid (GBP 357,600), while Donald Findlay, QC, the next highest paid, go...See the full content of this document
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