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  • Legal aid legislation and guidance

    Topics:
    • Legal aid, 
    • Legal profession

    Includes links to legislation, Department of Justice (DoJ) authorisations and internal Legal Services Agency guidance.

    LSANI guidance

    • LSANI guidance - making a request for a face-to-face interpreter using FLEX or DALS
    • LSANI guidance - practitioner file review - evidence for claims
    • LSANI guidance - applicant declarations - all levels of service
    • LSANI guidance note - closed material procedure in legacy & collusion cases
    • LSANI guidance - Identifying, measuring and reducing applicant fraud and error using Future Overpayment Prevention methodology
    • LSANI guidance - Identifying, measuring and reducing practitioner error and fraud
    • LSANI guidance - Civil Practitioners - how to submit a Review Payment request
    • LSANI guidance - the Language Room
    • LSANI guidance - the Language Line
    • LSANI guidance - seeking the domestic abuse waiver
    • LSANI pilot - general authority for the deployment of mediators in legally aided non-family intra-litigation civil proceedings
    • LSANI guidance - completion of financial eligibility in advice & assistance
    • LSANI guidance - completion of financial eligibility in representation lower
    • LSANI guidance - practitioner error & fraud pilot
    • Frequently Asked Questions - practitioner error & fraud pilot
    • Process maps - practitioner error & fraud pilot
    • LSANI guidance - applicant fraud & error
    • LSANI - General authority pilot for the use of psychiatrists and psychologists as expert witnesses in public law Children Order cases in the Family Proceedings court
    • LSANI guidance - reviews, redeterminations and appeals to the Taxing Master for Crown court legal aid costs
    • LSANI policy - requirements for submitting electronic pages of prosecution evidence (ePPE)
    • LSANI guidance - accuracy of legal aid payments
    • LSANI guidance note - how to address identified common errors
    • LSANI guidance note - requirements for checking payment requests & supporting information
    • LSANI policy - requirements for submitting travel related expense claims
    • LSANI guidance - solicitor specific - making travel expense payment requests
    • LSANI guidance - barrister specific - making travel expense payment requests
    • LSANI - Policy for the submission of requests for payment with the statutory time limits
    • LSANI - Fees adjustment and recoupments policy
    • LSANI guidelines on submitting requests for civil exceptional funding
    • LSANI guidance - Counsel requests for payment - Article 2 family & children order cases
    • LSANI - Hardship payments policy and application forms
    • LSANI guidance - Costs for excessive photocoping in the Crown court
    • LSANI - Guidance note on civil taxed cases
    • LSANI - Guidance note on criminal court of appeals taxed cases
    • LSANI guidance note on summary only magistrates' court cases
    • LSANI guidance - Appeals, reviews and redeterminations
    • LSANI guidance - Tabling appeals before the appeals panel
    • LSANI - General medical authority for advice and assistance cases
    • LSANI - General authority for incurred costs in funded cases under the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995
    • LSANI - General authority for medical fees in civil cases
    • LSANI - General authority for consulting engineers' reports and witness fees in civil cases
    • LSANI guidance - Notes on completing financial eligibility on LAMS in representation higher cases
    • LSANI guidance - Civil Representation
    • LSANI guidance - Authorisation of counsel in civil cases
    • LSANI guidance - Exceptional Funding
    • Letter from LSA to Law Society - Decision making guidance for civil representation
    • LSANI guidance - Remuneration for exceptional preparation work in the Magistrates’ courts and appeals to the County court
    • LSANI guidance – Remuneration for exceptional preparation work in the Crown court
    • SEGP guidance – 22 October 2008

    DoJ guidance

    • DoJ guidance - domestic abuse waiver in legal aid applications
    • DoJ guidance - Submission of electronic pages of prosecution evidence (ePPE)
    • DoJ guidance - Payment for excessive photocopying in the Crown court
    • DoJ guidance - LSANI prospects of success and cost benefit analysis
    • DoJ guidance – Remuneration for exceptional preparation work in the Magistrates’ courts and appeals to the County court
    • DoJ guidance - Remuneration for exceptional preparation work in the Crown court
    • DoJ direction on Children Order uplift
    • DoJ guidance - Youth engagement clinics

    Statutory Charge guidance

    • Statutory Charge - Important notes for practitioners
    • LAMS - Supporting documents for Statutory Charge
    • Guidance for legal representatives on the partial restatement - 31 March 2010
    • Guide to Statutory Charge – December 2010
    • Guide to Statutory Charge – December 2012
    • Paying for your legal aid - The Statutory Charge

    Other guidance

    • Lord Chancellor's guidance on SEGP
    • Lord Chancellor's direction on extradition cases
    • Crown court legal aid PPE guidance
    • Magistrates' court - list of active offences with legislation
    • Expert witness - CPS scales

    Legal aid legislation

    • The Magistrates’ Courts and County Court Appeals (Criminal Legal Aid) (Costs) (Amendment) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2021 - SR 2021 No. 311
    • The Civil Legal Aid (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 - SI 2019 No. 505
    • The Civil Legal Services (Financial) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019 - SR 2019 No. 203
    • The Legal Aid for Crown Court Proceedings (Costs) (Amendment) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2019 - SR 2019 No. 122
    • The Civil Legal Services (Remuneration) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2019 - SR 2019 No.119
    • The Civil Legal Services (Financial) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019 - SR 2019 No.14
    • The Civil Legal Services (General) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019 - SR 2019 No.13
    • The Civil Legal Services (Scope) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 - SR 2016 No. 416
    • The Magistrates’ Courts and County Court Appeals (Criminal Legal Aid) (Costs) (Amendment) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2016 – SR 2016 No. 398
    • The Civil Legal Services (Remuneration) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016 - SR 2016 No. 396
    • The Civil Legal Services (Financial) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 - SR 2016 No. 338
    • The Civil Legal Services (General) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 - SR 2016 No. 337
    • The Civil Legal Services (Remuneration) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016 - SR 2016 No. 336
    • The Civil Legal Services (Scope) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 - SR 2016 No. 202
    • The Legal Aid for Crown Court Proceedings (Costs) (Amendment No. 2) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2016 - SR 2016 No. 201
    • The Legal Aid for Crown Court Proceedings (Costs) (Amendment) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2016 - SR 2016 No. 200
    • The Criminal Defence Services (Remuneration) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016 - SR 2016 No.198
    • The Access to Justice (2003 Order) (Commencement No 8) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 - SR 2015 No 237 (C.17)
    • The Legal Aid for Crown Court Proceedings (Costs) (Amendment) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2015 - SR 2015 No. 215
    • The Criminal Legal Aid (Disclosure of Information) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2015 - SR 2015 No. 203
    • The Civil Legal Services (Disclosure of Information) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 - SR 2015 No. 202
    • The Civil Legal Services (Remuneration) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 - SR 2015 No. 201
    • The Civil Legal Services (Statutory Charge) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 - SR 2015 No. 200
    • The Civil Legal Services (Cost Protection) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015; SR 2015 No. 199
    • The Civil Legal Services (Costs) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 - SR 2015 No. SR 2015 No. 198
    • The Civil Legal Services (Appeals) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 - SR 2015 No. 197
    • The Civil Legal Services (Financial) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 - SR 2015 No. 196
    • The Civil Legal Services (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 - SR 2015 No. 195
    • The Access to Justice (2003 Order) (Commencement No. 7, Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 - SR 2015 No. 194 (C. 13)
    • The Legal Aid and Coroners’ Courts (2014 Act) (Commencement No. 1) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 - SR 2015 No. 193 (C. 12)
    • The Legal Aid and Coroners’ Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 2014
    • The Magistrates’ Courts and County Court Appeals (Criminal Legal Aid) (Costs) (Amendment) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2014 - SR 2014 No. 178
    • The Legal Aid (General) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 - SR 2014 No. 64
    • The Legal Aid (General) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 - SR 2012 No. 391
    • The Criminal Legal Aid (Recovery of Defence Costs Orders) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2012 - SR 2012 No.268
    • The Criminal Aid Certificates Rules (Northern Ireland) 2012 - SR 2012 No.135
    • The Legal Aid for Crown Court Proceedings (Costs) (Amendment) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2011 - SR 2011 No. 152
    • The Legal Aid (General) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 - SR 2010 No. 93
    • The Magistrates’ Courts and County Court Appeals (Criminal Legal Aid) (Costs) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2009 - SR 2009 No. 313
    • The Legal Aid for Crown Court Proceedings (Costs) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2005 - SR 2005 No. 112
    • The Access to Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 - SI 2003 No. 435 (N.I. 10)

    Department of Justice Directions 2024

    • Direction No. 1 - Remuneration arrangements for pilot to fast track seriouis sexual offence cases in children under 16 years in all court divisions in Northern Ireland

    Department of Justice Directions 2020

    • Direction No. 1 - Remuneration arrangements for Asylum and Immigration proceedings before the First-Tier and Upper Tribunal

    Department of Justice Directions 2019

    • Direction No. 1 - Remuneration arrangements for the pilot to fast track serious sexual offence cases involving children aged under 13 years in Belfast crown court

    Department of Justice Directions 2018

    • Direction No. 1 - Remuneration arrangements for the pilot Domestic Violence Perpetrator Programme (DVPP)
    • Direction No. 2 - Remuneration arrangements for the pilot Substance Misuse Court Programme (SMCP)

    Department of Justice Directions 2017

    • Direction No.1 - Interim Payments in cases funded under Article 10A
    • Direction No. 2 - Interim Payments in cases funded under Article 12A of the Access to Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003
    • Direction No. 3 - Interim Payments in criminal cases in the Crown court
    • Direction No. 4 - - Interim Payments in criminal cases in the Magistrates’ courts and County courts

    Department of Justice authorisations

    • DoJ authorisation - Omagh civil action – 24 October 2012
    • DoJ authorisation - Omagh civil action – 06 February 2014
    • DoJ authorisation 9 - Terrorism prevention and Investigation Measures Act 2011
    • DoJ authorisation 11 – Proceedings before the care tribunal
    • DoJ authorisation 12 – Authority for the revocation of authorisations 7, 8 and 11
    • DoJ authorisation 13 - Hague Convention 2007
    • DoJ authorisation 14 - Exceptional legal aid and delegation of decision-making

    Rescinded policies & guidance

    • LSANI - Guidance note on COVID-19 Interim Payment Scheme and furloughing staff
    • LSANI - COVID-19 Interim Payment Scheme
    • LSANI - COVID-19 special payments policy and claim forms
    • LSANI guidance note - Proposed COVID-19 interim payment scheme - requirement to attach barristers
    • DoJ Direction No.2 - COVID-19 Interim Payment Scheme for legal aid suppliers

    Related content

    • Legal aid circulars
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