During the first quarter of 1997 a Legal Notice was published in a number of national newspapers in the UK, formally announcing the creation of UK’s first Public Defender Service. The announcement was warmly received in certain quarters but condemned by a few institutions. The then Master of the Rolls sent us a short note wishing us well with the project. The government of Anthony Blair was also made aware.

Surprisingly in 2001 the British government set up its own Public Defender Services. Ministers pretended that they were unaware of the Public Defender Service. Subsequently, the Legal Services Commission was created – as a “child” of the Public Defender Services.
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