No-win-no-fee lawyers have left taxpayers with a financial headache, by hampering equal pay reviews. Local Government Employers' research revealed last week that half of all councils had now undertaken equal pay reviews, but the process was continually being hampered by the impact of no-win-no-fee lawyers. ‘Local government wants equal pay within its workforce and is working hard to achieve it, and it is extremely encouraging that more than half of all councils have the job done,' said managing director of LGE, Jan Parkinson. ‘Councils have been hamstrung in their ability to deliver, as no-win-no-fee lawyers have been holding up the process for years. Lawyers have not served any useful purpose and instead have clogged up the tribunal system, causing severe delays to claims and have cost taxpayers more money in bureaucracy.' The research from 79 councils found staff in schools accounted for about 29% of equal pay costs for a given authority, with up to 75% in the most extreme cases. The total cost of pay reviews was currently estimated at £2.8bn, with total backpay at £1bn, ongoing costs at £1.5bn and protection at £400m.