Hi - might be sounding a little self-centred here, but what's the likelihood of any providers to IAS, such as expert witness's, being paid outstanding invoices? In normal administration situations, my understanding is that you try your best to get paid, but generally not with much success. However, given the IAS is an LSC funded organisation, therefore a government funded organisation, are things different?
Post by Richard Wilkinson on Jul 11, 2011 9:09:10 GMT
Hi fps and welcome to ilegal.
I would imagine there will be many very valid questions such as this. For info, IAS income is largely from legal aid but not completely. Until there is some sort of official communication its difficult to answer your question.
As a couple of other posters have suggested, the administration can do a numbner of different things- the primary purpose is normally to recover the business if possible. In the dim and distant I worked somewhere that went into administration. The firm managed to get out, and most services continued in the mean time.
Presumably at some piont you will recieve some sort of communication from the appointed administrators.
Thanks I was guessing that would be the answer, but I suppose there's no harm in being optimistic!
Given the time, and that clearly everyone who really should know, probably does ( or I hope they do), I'm a little surprised that it isn't all over the news yet. Even the net is only throwing up forums discussing it - surely they cant try to keep it under wraps for much longer!
Post by Colin Henderson on Jul 11, 2011 9:43:03 GMT
I'd just like to point out that this forum's primary purpose is to give a voice to the frontline legal aid worker, (always aware that their management may read what they say). If there have been management issues then I think these can be responsibly aired in due course by workers who know from the inside what they are talking about, but they should be cautious not to fire from the hip.
To set the scene it seems there have been redundancies and office closures at IAS recently, which appear to have been caused by very similar cash-flow/buffer problems as RMJ. Here is how the GMB reported it in November (we missed it at the time):
"The Immigration Advisory Service (IAS) is proposing to cut 82 jobs by closing its Bristol and Bedford offices and merging its Central London and Hounslow offices culling two thirds of its workforce in the process. The 82 jobs at risk include 6 people's jobs at the Higher Appeals Research & Information Department (HARID) in London.
Consultation with GMB started on 1st November and the management has already given notice on the lease and looking to close the Bristol office in January 2011. GMB believes that the Bedford office will close soon due to a failure to gain funding. The Leicester and Cardiff offices closed earlier this year. ...
A change in funding from hours worked to cases billed has left the IAS with a funding deficit leaving it owing money to the Legal Services Commission. The money owing has to be repaid, and the buffer that the LSC provide is to be reduced from a debt of £3.3 million at March 2010, to £2.3 million by March 2011 and to £0.9 million by March 2012."
Immigration Advisory Service announce their decision to go into administration 11 July 2011 LSC to secure alternative provision as soon as possible
Today, Immigration Advisory Service (IAS) announced that they have gone into administration.
IAS is a not for profit charity and the largest provider of legal aid services in the asylum and immigration market. It has 14 offices across England and Scotland and operates outreach in a number of different locations nationwide.
Our priority now is to work closely with IAS and the administrators to ensure clients of IAS continue to get the help they need, whilst safeguarding public money. We are now identifying alternative advice provision in the areas affected and arrangements for case transfer will follow as soon as possible.
IAS clients are advised to visit IAS’s website where updates on arrangements will be posted - www.iasuk.org.
Anyone who needs immigration advice should contact the Community Legal Advice helpline on 0845 345 4 345.
Post by Douglas Johnson on Jul 11, 2011 12:02:02 GMT
Official notice from the LSC now reads:
“Immigration Advisory Service (IAS) went into administration on Friday at 16.30. The Immigration Advisory Service’s decision to go into administration is theirs alone. During recent stewardship activities the LSC raised concerns around financial management and claims irregularities which prompted IAS trustees’ to conclude that the organisation was no longer financially viable. Our priority now is to work closely with IAS and the administrators to ensure clients of IAS continue to get the help they need, whilst safeguarding public money. We are now identifying alternative advice provision in the areas affected and arrangements for case transfer will follow as soon as possible “ I am meeting administrators at 0900 Monday morning. John Sirodcar Head of Contract Management”
I'm not sure why the LSC has to raise allegations about "financial management" at the same time as saying it was nothing to do with them!
The Administration of IAS Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 11/07/2011 - 12:27. Immigration Advisory Service administrators are presently in negotiations with the Legal Services Commission; this decision, taken by the Board of Trustees and CEO, places IAS in administration and comes as unexpected blow to professional IAS staff and our valued stakeholders.
Our concerns are with our clients at the present time, many of whom have pending appeals, are in vulnerable situations and will struggle to comprehend the impact of this decision upon their fundamental human rights.
There is a firm belief that the IAS Northern Business Unit is in a strong position to continue trading as a going concern and would appreciate the assistance of the LSC and other law firms in safeguarding the best interests of our clients.
IAS
There is nothing I can find on the IAS website and if the above post is genuine (& it gives that impression) then a comment to an online Gazette article seems an odd way of putting out the first 'official' message.
