LAPG receives numerous member enquiries every month, many of which indicate
- A lack of understanding of the detail of the legal aid scheme and
- The difficulties practitioners face in maintaining a working knowledge of the scheme, as it changes regularly.
Our members often tell us that they would like to have access to a modular ‘Introduction to Legal Aid’ training programme taking newcomers to the sector through the potential minefield of legal aid work that they can use as a standard part of their internal training process for new recruits.
This is the first module in our Legal Aid Training series which provides a general introduction to the civil legal aid scheme aimed at trainees, paralegals, junior lawyers and those that wish to refresh their knowledge having worked in the sector for some time.
It is an online self-study modular course online that you complete at your own pace, with external links for up to date Legal Aid Agency information.
A number of organisations are now using this course as a standard part of their training process for new recruits
This course provides a comprehensive overview and introduction to the Civil Legal Aid scheme and the critical aspects of working within a legal aid contract.
In this introductory module we cover:
• Where the legal aid scheme and rules can be found
• The differences between Legal Help and Legal Representation
• The legal and financial tests applied in determining eligibility for legal aid
• The different forms of service available
• How to get legal aid in an emergency
• Rules on the statutory charge, costs protection and Exceptional Case Funding
The course has been developed by LAPG and tested by members of the LAPG Advisory Committee, members of the Young Legal Aid Lawyers (YLAL) and other legal aid practitioners.
Cost: £100 per person for LAPG members (in some cases, we offer discounted or free places for members of the Justice First Fellowship. Please, contact us for further details) and £150 per person for non-members.
We are now accepting subscriptions and online payments through our Training Platform. You can subscribe here.
Should you have difficulties with the payment, please do contact our Head of Learning & Development Andrea Shumaker
We are going to create more modules, and are very happy to hear from you with feedback on how to improve this course and ideas for future course areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this course online or in person?
This course is entirely online and the content is self-paced. You can complete the course at your own pace as there are no live elements.
How long do I have access to the course?
You will have access to the course for 12 months from the date you sign up. If you complete the course, you can continue to reference the material as you work through cases until your access expires.
How do I access the course?
If you sign up via Thinkific, you will access the course using the same details you entered when purchasing the course. Please make sure that you enter the correct details when purchasing the course. If you sign up with Andrea (andrea.shumaker@lapg.co.uk), she will create your account for you and provide you with a sign-in link. Moving forward you will need to log-in via Thinkific with your details to access the course.
How long does it take to complete the course?
The course can be completed as quickly or as slowly as you wish. You can get through the content in a day or you can spread it out over a longer period of time, it is completely up to you!
What if I need an invoice?
We are unable to provide an invoice for transactions made on Thinkifc. If you need an invoice, please email andrea.shumaker@lapg.co.uk to arrange your booking. If you have already purchased through Thinkific and need an invoice, please email Andrea at the above email.
We have developed the second module in our Legal Aid Training series which provides a general introduction to Mental Health, Mental Capacity/Court of Protection and Community Care Legal Aid aimed at trainees, paralegals, junior lawyers and those that wish to refresh their knowledge in these areas.
It is an online self-study modular course online that you complete at your own pace, with external links for up to date information.
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to working on Mental Health, Mental Capacity/Court of Protection and Community Care legal aid cases.
In this introductory module we cover:
Mental Health
- Non-Mental Health Tribunal Work
- Non-Means Tested Non-Mental Health Tribunal Work
- Non-Means Tested Mental Health Tribunal Work
- Help at Court for Victims and Licensed Work for Representation before the Upper Tribunal/High Court
- Applying Guidance
- Costs
Mental Capacity/Court of Protection
- Cases Under the Mental Capacity Act 2005
- Cases Under the Inherent Jurisdiction of the High Court
- Full Representation Certificates -COP Cases
- The Legal Aid Application
- Financial Eligibility
- Section 21 MCA 2005 Cases
- Young People
- Trapped Capital
- Other Considerations – Court Orders
Community Care
- What is Community Care Law?
- Legal Help
- Full Representation
- Investigative Representation
- The Legal Aid Application
- Other Considerations
- Payment for Community Care Work
The Community Board notifies delegates of all official amendments/additions to the contract and supporting documents. Updates will be incorporated into the course, which will be kept under constant review.
Contributors
Rosie Campbell, Associate Solicitor, Rook Irwin Sweeney
Alison Ward, Solicitor and Salaried Director, MJC Law
Cost: £200 per person for LAPG members and £300 per person for non-members.
We are now accepting subscriptions and online payments through our Training Platform. You can subscribe here.
Should you have difficulties with the payment, please do contact our Head of Learning & Development Andrea Shumaker
We are going to design more modules, and are very happy to hear from you with feedback on how to improve this course and ideas for future course areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this course online or in person?
This course is entirely online and the content is self-paced. You can complete the course at your own pace as there are no live elements.
How long do I have access to the course?
You will have access to the course for 12 months from the date you sign up. If you complete the course, you can continue to reference the material as you work through cases until your access expires.
How do I access the course?
If you sign up via Thinkific, you will access the course using the same details you entered when purchasing the course. Please make sure that you enter the correct details when purchasing the course. If you sign up with Andrea (andrea.shumaker@lapg.co.uk), she will create your account for you and provide you with a sign-in link. Moving forward you will need to log-in via Thinkific with your details to access the course.
How long does it take to complete the course?
The course can be completed as quickly or as slowly as you wish. You can get through the content in a day or you can spread it out over a longer period of time, it is completely up to you!
What if I need an invoice?
We are unable to provide an invoice for transactions made on Thinkifc. If you need an invoice, please email andrea.shumaker@lapg.co.uk to arrange your booking. If you have already purchased through Thinkific and need an invoice, please email Andrea at the above email.
Make sure you comply with the supervision requirements in the current crime and civil contracts.
If you need to attend a course to qualify as a legal aid supervisor, or check that you are up to date with the latest requirements, this is the course for you! Legal aid supervisors need knowledge of their subject and practice experience, which we can’t do for you; but if you are new to supervision, or haven’t supervised a full-time equivalent caseworker in the past 5 years, this course will ensure you meet the LAA’s Generic Supervisor Requirements (Section 2(ii) of the Supervisor Self-Declaration Forms).
Dates and prices:
We have now confirmed dates for 2025 Supervision courses, the remaining dates are below. You can subscribe by clicking the date you’d like to attend.
This course runs from 10:00-17:00 with two short tea breaks and a longer break for lunch.
This course is delivered online via Zoom. Participants will be sent the details via email a week before the session
Contact us if you have any questions about our courses or would like to add your name to the waiting list.
£210 for LAPG members; £250 for non-members
If you can’t pay online, contact LAPG Learning & Development Co-ordinator, Andrea Shumaker, on andrea.shumaker@lapg.co.uk to book your place.
Frequently Asked Questions
I need to qualify as a supervisor, does this course meet the requirements?
If you are new to supervision, or haven’t supervised a full-time equivalent caseworker in the past 5 years, this course will ensure you mee the LAA’s Generic Supervisor Requirements (Section 2 (ii) of the Supervisor Self-Declaration Forms).
Is this course online or in person?
This course is entirely online and will be hosted on Zoom.
How do I access the course?
You will receive an email one week before the course with the Zoom link and materials. This email will be sent to the email provided when booking, please make sure it is correct. If you haven’t received the email, please check your spam before contacting andrea.shumaker@lapg.co.uk.
Do I get a certificate after attending?
Yes, you will receive a certificate after completing the course, it is usually sent to you via email the next day. You can use this certificate during the verification process with the LAA. You should download your certificate and keep it on file as you may need to present it at any time.
How long is the course?
The course runs from 10:00-17:00 with two fifteen minute tea breaks, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, and a longer break for lunch.
What if I need an invoice?
We are unable to provide an invoice for transactions made on Eventbrite. If you need an invoice, please email andrea.shumaker@lapg.co.uk to arrange your booking. If you have already booked on Eventbrite and need an invoice, please email Andrea at the above email.
Legal aid contracts are complex and cumbersome. Managing your contract well can be the difference between success and failure.
We have developed a Toolkit that draws together key information to enable practices to understand their legal aid contract. Particularly useful for those new to delivering legal aid, it links to more detailed sources from the LAA, LAPG and others. Designed as a comprehensive resource for the people in your organisation responsible for day to day management of your legal aid contract.
- Some Key Changes Between the 2018 Civil Contract and the 2024 Civil Contract
- Contracts Overview
- Key Issues Under the Standard Civil Contract 2024
- Managing Casework
- Managing Billing
- Managing Quality & Compliance
- Sources of Support
Contributors
This is an LAPG resource that is managed and reviewed by LAPG
Vicky Ling has spent her career in the advice and legal sector and has worked with a wide range of solicitors’ firms and not for profit legal practices. She is a Chartered Quality Professional and provides expert consultancy support in relation to practice management and legal aid service delivery issues and has written extensively on these topics. She edits the LAG Legal Aid Handbook.
This annual subscription will keep you up to date and regularly informed of all key changes.
- LAPG Members: £100 per annum
- Non-members of LAPG: £400 per annum
Included in your purchase is the Toolkit itself as well as access to a Community Board.
Please ensure you are purchasing the Toolkit Bundle at the correct rate.
Your subscription to the Toolkit automatically renews until cancelled. You can cancel at anytime, you will lose access to the Toolkit on the date your next recurring payment was due.
You must cancel your subscription at least 2 days before your renewal date to avoid being charged. You can cancel your subscription and request a full refund within 7 days of purchase.
To cancel your subscription and request a refund please contact andrea.shumaker@lapg.co.uk.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have access to the Toolkit?
Your initial purchase grants you access to the Toolkit for one year. If you purchased the Toolkit via Thinkific, your subscription will renew automatically every year on the same date you made your first purchase. If you were unable to purchase online and received an invoice, you will be invoiced 30 days before your subscription is set to expire.
How do I access the course?
If you sign up via Thinkific, you will access the course using the same details you entered when purchasing the course. Please make sure that you enter the correct details when purchasing the course. If you sign up with Andrea (andrea.shumaker@lapg.co.uk), she will create your account for you and provide you with a sign-in link. Moving forward you will need to log-in via Thinkific with your details to access the course.
Is the Toolkit kept up to date?
Yes, the content in the Toolkit is kept up to date. When signing up to the Toolkit, you also receive access to the Community Board. This is an online space within Thinkific where we will share updates from the LAA that pertain to relevant topics. There are instructions on how to access this space in the Toolkit, but please reach out the Andrea (andrea.shumaker@lapg.co.uk) if you are having any issues.
The content of the Toolkit is kept in constant review and the updates/changes posted to the Community Board will be integrated into the Toolkit when necessary. There is a section in the Toolkit that tells you the last time the content was updated.
What if I need an invoice?
We are unable to provide an invoice for transactions made on Thinkifc. If you need an invoice, please email andrea.shumaker@lapg.co.uk to arrange your booking. If you have already purchased through Thinkific and need an invoice, please email Andrea at the above email.
We use Thinkific: Effective, engaging and easy to use.
Comments from delegates
‘The course was easy to use and follow.’
‘Good, logical structure’
‘It was a useful refresher on completing means and merits assessments for Legal Aid cases.’
‘It was easy to navigate and clear to understand.’
‘We haven’t been offered anything like this before- we were all pleased to see that this course had been offered as its useful for all legal aid solicitors, no matter what level. It’s good to go back to basics.’
‘I think for beginners to legal aid, it is perfect.’
‘It was a refresher course which was very helpful.’
‘To understand the different types of funding available other than certificated matters.’
‘Very useful in improving my understanding of the subject.’