Process Servers take issue with Legal Aid rates

Tremark Associates have fully supported the Association of British Investigators who have taken issue with the Ministry of Justice over amendments made within ‘The Community Legal Service (Funding) (Amendment No.2) Order 2011’

In 1994 the rates at which Process Servers and Investigators could charge for Legal Aid matters was £40.00 per hour. Much debate and displeasure had been made within the investigation and process serving community as Legal Aid rates had not been updated for almost 20 years, despite huge increases in the cost of petrol and the cost of living. This has resulted in many firms rejecting offers of Legal Aid funded instructions.

It was a rude awaking therefore when the ‘The Community Legal Service (Funding) (Amendment No.2) Order 2011’ came in to force reviewing process servers fees to…. £32.00 per hour or £28.00 per hour if your lucky enough to work in London!

Tremark Associates along with other professional investigators and process servers have been working hard over the past three years to raise the profile and reputation of their industry. At the forefront have been the Association of British investigators.

The Association has brought in tough and strict membership criteria for all, resulting in an endorsement by the Law Society of England and Wales and acceptance by the Law Society of The Association of British Investigators as the sector representative in it’s service provider scheme.

The Solicitors Regulatory Authority seemed also to have taken note with their Code of Conduct (Para’s 0 (1.2) and IB (4.3)) stating there Solicitors have a duty to

‘Outsource services only when they are satisfied that the provider has taken all appropriate steps to ensure that clients’ confidential information will be protected’.

‘It’s a ridiculous situation particularly in light of the Leveson Enquiry’ says Tremark’s Managing Director Mark Hodgson ‘on one hand you have the SRA and the Law Society telling solicitors to only use professionals and on the other the Ministry of Justice only allowing solicitors to pay peanuts’!