HLPA, LCN and LAPG have written to the Ministry of Justice calling for urgent changes to the JR regulations which are impeding access to justice during these extraordinary times, putting people at risk as the Government has removed statutory duties to assess and provide care to adults and has provided local government with wide [...]
During these unprecedented and worrying times we are publishing some of our Member Updates as and when they contain information of general use to the sector. Update 11 of 2020 covers: LAPG requests urgent financial relief for providers from the LAA New LAPG Covid-19 helpline for legal aid providers to start imminently DG Legal [...]
With thanks again to consultant Matthew Howgate, we have published the following updated guidance on Legal Aid Agency (LAA) contract compliance in the wake of the measures introduced by the LAA and the steps that providers are needing to take during the COVID-19 crisis. This guidance takes into account and seeks to interpret LAA [...]
With thanks to consultant Matthew Howgate, we have published the following guidance on Legal Aid Agency (LAA) contract compliance in the wake of the measures introduced by the LAA and the steps that providers are needing to take during the COVID-19 crisis. This guidance takes into account and seeks to interpret LAA guidance released [...]
In recent weeks we have been working with a group of experienced legal aid lawyers to try to get a better understanding of what appears to be a growing and pressing problem: the apparent ‘culture of refusal’ within the LAA. We have agreed that to gauge the extent of this issue we need a [...]
The government released the official legal aid statistic on 13 December 2018, brining the data set up to date to 30 September 2018. Worryingly, crime expenditure and workload have both decreased. Fewer civil legal help matters have been started, continuing the trend since the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO). Mediation [...]
The LAA will shortly roll out a new report to all legal aid contract holders setting out key information about contract performance. The LAA announcement about the new Provider Activity Report follows: Civil/crime news: rollout of contract performance reports ‘Provider Activity Reports’ (PARs) showing key contract data and highlighting performance against contractual requirements are to [...]
Legal Aid Practitioners Group sets out detailed plan for undoing damage caused by LASPO cuts. The Legal Aid Practitioners Group has drawn on the expertise and experience of its members to produce a 'pragmatic and clear' manifesto for restoring access to justice, lost following the 2012 Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act. Writing [...]
The LAA has now announced their plans for the tender process for 2018 Civil Legal Aid contracts. We will be running courses designed to help you to understand: The tender process for bidding for a 2018 Civil Contract The changes that will be introduced by the 2018 Civil Contract This is essential content for anyone [...]
We’ve launched a survey to capture user experiences of CCMS. Our members are consistently telling us of issues they experience with the system. We also know that a large number of applications are being processed. We’d like to hear from anyone who is using the system so that we can analyse what needs to be [...]