Comments on: More bonkers Legal Services Commission rules http://www.landlordlawblog.co.uk/2009/03/13/more-bonkers-legal-services-commission-rules/ From landlord and tenant solicitor Tessa Shepperson Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:12:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Tessa http://www.landlordlawblog.co.uk/2009/03/13/more-bonkers-legal-services-commission-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-290 Tessa Wed, 18 Mar 2009 09:27:00 +0000 http://www.landlordlawblog.co.uk/?p=232#comment-290 True, but what can you do if you can't find any solicitors to do the work at all, let alone as a volunteer? True, but what can you do if you can’t find any solicitors to do the work at all, let alone as a volunteer?

]]> By: William Flack http://www.landlordlawblog.co.uk/2009/03/13/more-bonkers-legal-services-commission-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-289 William Flack Sat, 14 Mar 2009 22:34:00 +0000 http://www.landlordlawblog.co.uk/?p=232#comment-289 I am sorry but I have to take issue with you on this one. I do not think that it is bonkers or even unreasonable to expect those who are participating in the Housing Court Rota scheme to be professionally qualified. <br/><br/>The rates which the LSC pays for the Duty Rota are enough to pay for a qualified solicitor to attend. It is not necessary for volunteers to be used instead of solicitors. <br/><br/>I think that the public are entitled to something better than volunteers at Court. I was a Student Volunteer once. I remember how little I knew at the time. I have worked on the Duty Rota Scheme. I know how demanding it can be. Student volunteers should be able to provide support on rotas such as helping to fill in forms. I do not think that they should be giving advice to clients or representing them at hearings where they may lose their homes. <br/><br/>Isn't a bit like going to the dentist? If you were told that the person putting a drill in your mout was an unqualified student volunteer wouldn't you be worrying that thigns were not quite right and might well get worse? I am sorry but I have to take issue with you on this one. I do not think that it is bonkers or even unreasonable to expect those who are participating in the Housing Court Rota scheme to be professionally qualified.

The rates which the LSC pays for the Duty Rota are enough to pay for a qualified solicitor to attend. It is not necessary for volunteers to be used instead of solicitors.

I think that the public are entitled to something better than volunteers at Court. I was a Student Volunteer once. I remember how little I knew at the time. I have worked on the Duty Rota Scheme. I know how demanding it can be. Student volunteers should be able to provide support on rotas such as helping to fill in forms. I do not think that they should be giving advice to clients or representing them at hearings where they may lose their homes.

Isn’t a bit like going to the dentist? If you were told that the person putting a drill in your mout was an unqualified student volunteer wouldn’t you be worrying that thigns were not quite right and might well get worse?

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