The LAA today published the amendments to the crime specification, together with notification that contracts have been extended to 30th September 2014 (when competitive tendering will be introduced). While there are no major changes of substance, crime practitioners will not be able to relax - an announcement about government plans to cut a further £300million from legal aid is now expected tomorrow. This does at least mean that the Handbook can now be finalised and it will be released in hard copy shortly. Those who have already purchased the eBook version will be given a free update to incorporate these changes.