First Law

Manchester attempts to battle barristers

Local Government Chronicle - Thursday 1st May 2003

An attempt by 12 Greater Manchester councils to save money on child care barristers has attracted the wrath of the Bar Council.

The councils have appointed First Law, a legal tendering and audit solicitors firm, to negotiate a standard rate for local barristers after claiming the rates charged differed from area to area and were more expensive than London.

But the Bar Council, the official regulatory body for barristers branded the move "anti-competitive" and suggested the rates offered were too low.

Sandra Stewart, the deputy borough solicitor of Tameside MBC, the lead council said: "I am surprised by the Bar Council's response.

Money for child care barristers comes out of the social services budget so savings made will be put towards social workers and other front line services."

Anthony Armitage, the chief executive of First Law, hit back at the council, accusing it of being anti-competitive itself.

He said: "We have been doing this sort of work for three years and never had any complaints. At the end of the day chambers don't have to accept the rates if they don't want to."