Brendan Burgess
Founder
- Messages
- 53,449
[broken link removed] has said:
[FONT="]M[/FONT][FONT="]r O’Higgins said, “If partnerships are to be introduced, this will dramatically contract the available numbers of barristers and greatly restrict access to justice for those who cannot afford legal representation. ...[/FONT]
[FONT="]M[/FONT][FONT="]r O’Higgins warned that the net effect of these partnerships would be to diminish rather than increase competition and will contract the market. “As a result prices will be driven upwards as partners, especially in niche areas of the law, can set their[/FONT]
[FONT="]p[/FONT][FONT="]r[/FONT][FONT="]i[/FONT][FONT="]c[/FONT][FONT="]e to meet market demand, which will increase as access lessens.[/FONT]
[FONT="]“[/FONT][FONT="]M[/FONT][FONT="]u[/FONT][FONT="]l[/FONT][FONT="]t[/FONT][FONT="]i[/FONT][FONT="]-[/FONT][FONT="]d[/FONT][FONT="]i[/FONT][FONT="]s[/FONT][FONT="]c[/FONT][FONT="]i[/FONT][FONT="]p[/FONT][FONT="]l[/FONT][FONT="]i[/FONT][FONT="]n[/FONT][FONT="]a[/FONT][FONT="]r[/FONT][FONT="]y[/FONT][FONT="]p[/FONT][FONT="]r[/FONT][FONT="]actices will also retain the best of barristers to work for them either in-house or through various arrangements, cutting them off from members of the public who may wish to retain their services. It will also remove their independence and impact on decision making as their first priority will be to their employer as opposed to the court or other clients.”[/FONT]