Post by nickd on Mar 27, 2012 20:38:22 GMT 1
Here we are being told to cut back on litigation and making the most savage cuts in legal aid we have ever seen - whilst Her Majesty's Government promotes the work of its own Treasury Solicitors.
It looks like it's big money too; - but are we seeing any return on
what's paid out by our Treasury Solicitors?
I somehow doubt it
"In sensational new criminal allegations in the Carroll Foundation Trust one billion dollars cross-border offshore tax evasion fraud case it has also been revealed that the HM Treasury legal advisors Slaughter & May were paid a bewildering thirty two million pounds in legal fees to prop up most of the bankrupt British banking system."
www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/6721385/Both-admired-and-envied-Slaughter-and-Mays-33m-man.html
www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_kX3unTWGQ
"Treasury Solicitors is one of the largest legal organisations in the country"
TSol (Treasury Solicitor's Department)
TSol (the Treasury Solicitor’s Department) provides litigation and advisory legal services to over 180 public sector clients which include government departments and agencies, research councils, the national museums and other non-governmental bodies in England and Wales. With over 600 barristers and solicitors, TSol is one of the largest legal organisations in the country.
TSol lawyers advise ministers and their policymakers on a wide range of legal questions including domestic, public and private law, European Community law, international law and human rights. The Treasury Solicitor, Paul Jenkins QC, is the Head of the Government Legal Service.
Litigation Group
The Litigation Group provides civil litigation services to the majority of government departments and public bodies, and its work often raises questions of constitutional importance. In 2010/11, the Group handled over 34,000 cases, many of which focused on administrative law, immigration, commercial and property litigation, personal injury, planning and charity matters. The Group also plays a major role in public inquiries.
www.gls.gov.uk/about/departments/tsol.htm
They are, amongst others vacancies, advertising for Employment lawyers - just as the legal aid bill heads towards making it impossible to access a legal aid lawyer in an employment case:
Treasury Solicitors (TSol) – Employment Lawyer
Grade -
Grade 7 or Legal Officer
Salary -
The vacancies on offer are predominantly at Grade 7 with a starting salary of £ 46,620. Candidates with less than three years PQE but demonstrating the required level of competence may still be considered for legal officer posts with a starting salary of £41,920 (dependent on experience).
Closing Date -
12th April 2012 12 pm (mid-day)
Please note, it will not be possible to submit an application after 11:59am (midday) on the closing date (12 April).
About the post
We are looking for lawyers to conduct primarily employment litigation on behalf of respondent Government Departments and non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs). We cover the full range of public sector employment issues e.g. unfair dismissal, redundancy, discrimination, whistle blowing and equal pay. We litigate in the ET, EAT, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court (however as a general rule we do not do our own advocacy). There will be opportunities to branch out into areas other than litigation e.g. advising departments on the formulation of their HR policies and advising on commercial employment work e.g. the employment aspects of outsourcing contracts.
www.gls.gov.uk/lawyerrecruitment/vacancies.htm
Treasury solicitors are such a good brand; - others are using their name in bogus promotions of legal services
Important Notice
"We have been informed that individuals claiming to work for ‘Government Legal Services’ are contacting members of the public by phone and email and offering to help with compensation claims for accidents. Those contacted may be sent claim forms which refer to this website."
www.gls.gov.uk/about/departments/tsol.htm
The cost - wouldn't we like to know?
From just one set of the Ministry of Justice accounts relating to the 'entity' National Offender Management Services between June and September 2010 £6,976,094.80 (£6.9 Million) was paid to Treasury Solicitors; - it would be good to know how much in total is paid out by Government to Treasury Solicitors - not to mention a breakdown of all the new laws they draft & litigation they get involved with.
Seems like the State can fund its own solicitors with no problem; - yet people of limited means won't be able to access justice to take on the State - an imbalance if ever there was one!
It would also be nice to know how much our Government pays its Treasury Solicitors for drafting social security legislation; - given that the Ministry of Justice think it's not a complicated area of law and only requires 'generalist advisers'?