LSANI key messages - March 2026
Date published:
The LSA has issued the key messages for legal aid practitioners for March 2026.
1. Late Claim for Payment – new form
The Agency's policy for the submission of requests for payment within statutory time limits sets out the policy and procedures and legislative framework in respect of the application of the statutory time limits. Practitioners will be aware that requests for payment should be made within the three-month statutory time limit. The Agency does not routinely expect to receive requests for payment outside of the statutory time limit. However, the Agency has the power to extend the statutory time limit where it is satisfied there is ‘good reason’ to do so.
Where a practitioner has ‘good reason’ to require additional time to submit their bill, they should at the earliest opportunity seek additional time. This request for additional time can be made by completing the updated interactive form at Extension to Statutory Time Limits form.
2. Communications survey
The Agency issued a communications survey opening on 26 March 2026. Thank you to those who have taken the time to share your views. Unfortunately, the responses have been low, and your views are important to help shape how we can support you and so we have reopened the survey until 30 April 2026.
The anonymous survey should take less than 10 minutes, and we would encourage you to take part and give us your views on how we can communicate with you more effectively. The survey can be accessed at:
Following our last survey in 2023, your input has supported improvements including:
- Delivery of online “How to…” sessions
- Engagement with local solicitor associations
- Bespoke training for the Law Society’s Family Committee and the Family Bar Association
- Increased awareness of the LAMS Change Forum
- Publication of Official Statistics on Legal Aid.
Your feedback continues to play a key role in strengthening how we communicate with practitioners.
3. LSANI ‘How to….’ session slides
Practitioners are reminded of the availability of the slides used for the LSANI ‘How to…’ sessions. These can be located under the following path on the LSANI website:
- Legal aid – Legal Profession – Useful information for legal aid suppliers – LSANI ‘How to…’ sessions
The latest session slides have now been published and can be viewed at:
The individual session links for the previous sessions are also linked below for convenience:
- Payments & redeterminations slides
- Financial eligibility & means testing slides
- Submitting an application, review or appeal slides
- LAMS & dashboard reports slides
- Using the Exceptional Preparation time clock slides
Slides will be updated after each new session as required.
4. LAMS Change Forum
LAMS change template and email address
The Agency is committed to working with LAMS users to improve the system and we encourage practitioners to submit any ideas for change to our dedicated email address LAMSchanges@lsani.gov.uk using the change request template. Changes received will be forwarded to Forum Representatives, from the membership bodies who are responsible for collating and completing an initial prioritisation, for consideration by the Forum.
5. What you may have missed
Please note that the Agency have published the following, during March 2026, on the LSANI website:
- LSA 05-26 - Introduction of new LSANI guidance on the Assessment of Brief/ Composite Fees in Article 3 Family Care Centre cases
- LSANI Guidance - Assessment of Brief/ Composite Fees in Article 3 Family Care Centre cases
- Representation Lower Checklist
- LSANI guidance - applicant declarations
- Operational dashboard - January 2026
- LSANI Key Messages - February 2026