QASA (the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates) has been on our mind quite a bit this week here at LNTV HQ. First of all, the ever important issue of whether this might be one of the worst legal acronyms to actually try and say (although doing so does get you kudos from some who believe you have an ability to speak Japanese). The debate over that continues, as it seems does the question of QASA itself.
Earlier in the week it looked like we finally had the answer as to whether this controversial scheme would be going ahead when the Court of Appeal rejected a challenge by barristers. Lord Dyson held that the scheme did not undermine the independence of advocates or the judiciary and did not interfere with fundamental rights or constitutional principles. Lord Dyson did however note that the scheme divides opinion, and that’s certainly something we can all agree on. The decision was welcomed by the Legal Services Board, and so we started to look at where we could add a QASA programme into our forthcoming schedule, which we’ve been waiting to make since the reaccreditation scheme was put on hold over two years ago!
Then all was halted again as the Solicitors’ Association of Higher Courts Advocates repeated calls to delay the introduction of the scheme, and there’s rumour that an appeal to the Supreme Court is being considered. What happens next is anyone’s guess and we’ll be watching developments with interest, but now our QASA programme goes back to the ideas folder.
Until next time, sayounara…