The Lord Chancellor has extended Deborah Taylor’s appointment as Chair of the Criminal Legal Aid Advisory Board (CLAAB) for an additional 12 months starting January 2025, according to gov.uk.

The CLAAB was established following recommendations in the Criminal Legal Aid Independent Review (CLAIR) to adopt a broader perspective and foster a collaborative approach to criminal legal aid within the criminal justice system. The board plays a critical role in facilitating dialogue among stakeholders and ensuring that criminal defence practitioners contribute to shaping the future of the legal aid framework.

About Deborah Taylor
Deborah Taylor, who retired from the judiciary in December 2022, has a distinguished legal career. She served as a Senior Circuit Judge, Resident Judge at Southwark Crown Court, and Recorder of Westminster. As Treasurer of Inner Temple in 2022, she was an advocate for diversity in the legal profession.

Since March 2023, Taylor has chaired the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS), which oversees doctors’ fitness to practise and safeguards public interest. Additionally, she serves as a Trustee of Shakespeare’s Globe.

Appointed as CLAAB Chair in July 2023, Taylor has strengthened collaboration among stakeholders and facilitated important discussions on the structure and operation of criminal legal aid. Under her leadership, the board published its inaugural annual report on 14 November 2024.

Board and Future Plans
The CLAAB, which began meeting quarterly in October 2022, comprises representatives from key organizations, including the Bar Council, the Law Society of England and Wales, the Criminal Bar Association, and the Legal Aid Agency, alongside Ministry of Justice officials. Ministers have agreed to extend the board’s tenure by an additional year starting January 2025.

The decision underscores the government’s commitment to refining the criminal legal aid system and fostering ongoing collaboration across the justice sector.