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<p /> <p>The Jeffrey Review clearly identifies a number of challenges for criminal
advocacy services. The Government is committed to working with the profession in the
first half of 2015 to make progress on reforms that will ensure the legal aid advocacy
market operates competitively, sustainably and in such a way as to optimise quality.
In particular, the Government proposes to take steps to ensure that defendants in
criminal cases always have an informed and effective choice of the advocate who is
to represent them. The Government also proposes to take measures to strengthen the
current ban by the Legal Aid Agency on the payment or receipt of referral fees and
to address any potential conflicts of interest. We want to make sure that defendants
are fully aware of the choices available to them and that only advocates who are sufficiently
qualified by their training and experience represent defendants in cases in the Crown
Court.</p>
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