The Lord Chancellor has extended the appointment of Deborah Taylor as the Chair of the Criminal Legal Aid Advisory Board (CLAAB) for an additional 12 months from January 2025.
The CLAAB was established following the recommendation in the Criminal Legal Aid Independent Review (CLAIR) that an independent Advisory Board be set up to take a wider view and encourage a more joined-up approach to criminal legal aid within the criminal justice system.
The CLAAB plays a vital role in enabling collaboration with stakeholders across the criminal justice system. It ensures that criminal defence practitioners have ongoing input into the future development of the criminal legal aid system.
Biography
HH Deborah Taylor was a Senior Circuit Judge, Resident Judge at Southwark Crown Court and Recorder of Westminster until her retirement from the Judiciary in December 2022. In 2022 she was Treasurer of Inner Temple, where she advocated for greater diversity at the Bar.
Since March 2023, Deborah has been Chair of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) which deals with doctors' fitness to practise and ensures members of the public are adequately protected. Deborah is also a Trustee of Shakespeare's Globe.
Deborah has chaired the CLAAB since July 2023. During this time, Deborah has established a strong rapport with stakeholders and has fostered collaborative discussions on the operation and structure of the existing and future criminal legal aid schemes. The CLAAB published the first annual report on 14 November 2024.
Notes
The CLAAB has been meeting quarterly since it was first established in October 2022. Ministers have agreed to extend the CLAAB for an additional 12 months from January 2025.
The membership currently includes representatives from the Bar Council, the Law Society of England and Wales, Criminal Bar Association, London Criminal Courts Solicitors' Association, Criminal Law Solicitors' Association, CILEX, Young Legal Aid Lawyers, Young Barrister Committee, Crown Prosecution Service, the Legal Aid Agency and Ministry of Justice officials.
