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In order to become a member of the LCCSA, you will need to find two existing members to "nominate" you, then send your application to the Association's administrator, Sandra Dawson (PO Box 6314, London, N1 0DL).  You can download a copy of the form from here.

By becoming a member of the Association you can: -

  • Help us to influence the Legal Services Commission and the Government on issues that affect you;
  • Receive regular email eAlerts notifying you of the latest news and developments;
  • Receive the quarterly LCCSA newsletter, "The Advocate"; 
  • Receive a Member's Directory, listing not only all of the members of the Association and their geographical areas of practice, but also all of the prisons, police stations, magistrates' courts, crown courts and CPS offices within the Greater London area;
  • Become eligible to attend the annual LCCSA dinner at Grosvenor House in your own right;
  • Become eligible for a discounted ticket to the annual European Conference;
  • Become eligible for discounted rates for our training seminars.

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How will the proposals impact on diversity?

Fixed prices will create pressures in the system likely to result in discrimination against various minority groups. As a firm’s profitability becomes tied to its ability to process cases ever more quickly there will be a financial incentive for the firm to avoid cases or client groups viewed as ‘demanding’: -

  • Cases involving non-English speaking clients necessarily take more time to prepare and in court. Such cases will be ‘less profitable’ than similar cases with English speakers.
  • Cases involving clients with mental health problems demand more time from the lawyer and more court hearings as medical agencies comment on issues such as fitness to plead or. A crude fixed fee system will operate to the detriment of these clients as the new market driven model lacks the flexibility to cater for their particular needs. As a result some of the most vulnerable individuals will no longer be able to receive the care and service they require.
  • Clients with speech, hearing or other communication difficulties will face similar difficulties.
  • Lawyers from ethnic minority groups will also be adversely affected. Working disproportionately in small and often new businesses in the London area, the forced closure of small businesses will see the disappearance of many such firms and will reduce the presence of minority lawyers at senior levels of the profession. From holding positions of influence they will be reduced to junior partner or fee earner status. The pool from which senior ethnic members of the legal profession can be selected (for the judiciary) will be significantly reduced.
  • Subject to the detail of the proposals, it appears that many complex cases will become loss making for law firms. Any case where the defence wish to produce a large number of witnesses or involving the viewing of lengthy CCTV, or requiring detailed analysis of voluminous prosecution exhibits will likely be so cost ineffective as to create disincentives for lawyers to take on such work.