Peer - Review

Our 'Excellence, Category 1 Peer Review Rating

In January 2010 the firm, for both offices, achieved a “rating” of “Excellence”, Category 1, in an independent peer review report. Managed by the Institute of Advance Legal Studies, independent of the Legal Services Commission, its peer reviewers are, like us, experienced legal aid practitioners.

They assess, periodically, a random sample of our files to determine the quality of legal advice provided by the firm. The reviewer then makes an overall judgement about the company’s quality of advice and legal work.
We take great pride in our work and are pleased to announce that Gerard Maye Legal limited are one of the 3% of publicly funded criminal defence firms who have achieved this category throughout England and Wales, during the period 1/4/2005 – 15/12/2009, who have demonstrated their commitment to quality work and professional standards. Please refer to the Legal Services Commission website for more information at:
www.legalservices.gov.uk/docs/cls main/PeerReviewConfirmedFaceto FaceResultsDec2009.pdf.

This section sets out some of the comments and observations contained in the Peer Review Report for both offices, conducted during a three day review of our work in November 2009.

In summary, the following positive findings were made. For professional reasons, we cannot refer to individual cases.

• The police station work was of a consistently high quality.
• The firm was very proactive in its defence work. Proofs (Statements) of Evidence were taken from clients as soon as possible. Defence witnesses were attended upon at an early stage and sent to the clients for signature.
• Strenuous efforts were made to obtain evidence from the Crown Prosecution Service (to ensure that we were able to establish, at an early stage, the evidence against our client(s).
• The firm ensured that unnecessary court hearings did not take place, thus avoiding a waste of court time and public money. This also avoided both the client and us needlessly attending court.
• The client(s) received excellent and detailed advice regarding their case.
• The files showed the firm had considered both the strengths and weakness of the prosecution’s case and advised the client(s) accordingly. Advice was also given regarding the strengths and weakness of the defendants’ cases.
• All clients were advised on the credit they would receive for a timely early guilty plea.
• The client(s) received advice on the plea, together with advice regarding plea before venue (i.e. either in the magistrates’ court or crown court).
• The firm submitted written objections to prosecution applications for admissions of “bad character” (previous convictions or reprehensible conduct which may considerably prejudice a defendant’s trial).
• The firm was generally successful in preventing the admission of this evidence (ensuring the defendant’s prospect of acquittal was greatly enhanced).
• A number of files showed a high level of client care.
• Wherever possible, the firm would ensure that client(s) would not find themselves at a police station without representation.
  
  This section deals with the reports “Further Comments”
  
  
• The files reviewed were of a very high standard. Office procedures and documents were of a high quality and contained the record of work carried out by the Supplier.
• The files demonstrated that the clients were provided with a high level of service. The letters to the clients were thorough, clear and concise. The letters contained within the files were tailored to the individual client’s circumstances and all correspondence was dispatched to the client immediately.
• The Supplier progressed each case comprehensively and effectively. There was evidence that all fee earners demonstrated an in depth knowledge of their clients case and there was an excellent use of tactics and strategies which ensured excellent outcomes for the clients.
• The Supplier is to be congratulated on the excellent standard of work demonstrated in the sample of files reviewed.
• Suggested Areas for Improvement - None
• Overall Assessment of the Quality of the Work on the Files of the Supplier Reviewed - Excellence (1)

For more information, please refer to the LSC website: www.legalservices.gov.uk/docs/cls main/PeerReviewConfirmedFaceto FaceResultsDec2009.pdf