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Solicitors Threaten Exit Over Legal Aid Fees | Cork News
Solicitors are threatening to quit the free legal aid system over new fee changes that shift to a “one accused, one fee” model at $520 per case — a move the Law Society calls a deal-breaker that could trigger an exodus and leave rural areas with legal deserts. Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan defends the changes, citing court abuses and blaming lawyers for delays, but critics like barrister Barry Ward say he lacks courtroom insight, while Law Society president Rosemary Loftus argues delays stem from state bureaucracy, not solicitors chasing fees. Despite pressure to pause, O’Callaghan remains…
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