The LSC has published draft Very High Cost Case (VHCC) Contracts for Panel Members and Panel Advocates.

Lord Carter?s report on the review of legal aid procurement made a number of recommendations directly concerning VHCCs.

Lord Carter recommended that a new specialist panel of providers should conduct all VHCCs and in order to ensure this happens, the LSC should establish a best value tendered panel of providers to undertake work on VHCCs.

A competitive tendering exercise was launched to invite tenders for membership of the Very High Cost Case (Crime) Panel on 5 June 2007.

As a result of the responses received to the ?Consultation on the Draft VHCC Panel Contract? the decision has been made to have separate contracts for Panel Members and Panel Advocates.

Successful applicants are required to sign up to the Panel Members? Contract. Panel Members will be entitled to conduct VHCCs in accordance with the terms and conditions set out therein.

Successful Panel Advocates will be required to sign up to the Panel Advocate?s Contract. Panel Advocates will be entitled to conduct VHCCs in accordance with the terms and conditions set out therein.