FAQs - LAMS information security

What are the Agency’s requirements for the retention of soft and hard copies of applications, correspondence etc.?

Original documentation scanned and uploaded on to LAMS in support of an application should be retained on the solicitor’s case file for audit purposes.

How does the LSA send documents to an applicant? If they have an email address, will these be sent by email? If they don’t have an email address, will hard copies be posted?

As email is not a secure method for sending any documentation containing sensitive or personal information, all official documents will be sent by post.

What information on LAMS will be made available to any Agencies outside LSA?

In order for LSANI to carry out its duties and responsibilities, we may have to share some of your personal information with other organisations, for example with the Courts, the Legal Aid Assessment Office, the Department for Communities and other Government Departments or Agencies where necessary.

Your personal information may also be shared with relevant enforcement agencies for the prevention or detection of crime.

What are the GDPR implications for all suppliers and LSANI?

There are no new GDPR implications. LAMS simply moves the current paper process for legal aid applications and requests online. In fact, the resulting reduction in the paperwork will reduce the risk of GDPR breach.

LSANI will remain the controller of any data input to LAMS, but solicitors remain bound by their responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of the data that they provide to LSANI. Solicitors continue to be the controllers of the data provided to them by their clients.