Publications

Links to circulars issued by LSA relating to the introduction of LAMS.

Circular 'LSA 25-19 - Representation higher - emergency pilot process' will be of interest to all suppliers as it sets out a new pilot process for matters where an application cannot be made on LAMS before the court appearance due to the exceptional urgency of the

Circular 'LSA 24-19 - LSANI payment runs for Christmas 2019 and New Year 2020' provides details of payment processing arrangements for the Legal Services Agency (the Agency) during the 2019/2020 Christmas and New Year holiday period.

Circular 'LSA 23-19 - Completing financial eligibility for prisoners and minors on LAMS' provides details of the process to follow on LAMS and should be read in conjunction with the Legal Aid (Financial) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 and the ‘

Circular ‘LSA 22-19 - Notification of industrial action on 3 October 2019’ advises practitioners that on 3 October 2019, like other public sector bodies, the LSA will be able to offer very limited services due to industrial action.

Circular 'LSA 21-19 - LAMS - Termination of post go-live transitional arrangements' confirms the termination of the post go-live transitional arrangements with effect from 5.00pm on Monday 30 September 2019.  The case critical email will no longer be available and

A summary on the content of all AccessNI Newsletters issued since 2015 has been provided below -

Circular 'LSA 20-19 - Change of service provider for face to face interpreting and translating services in legal aid cases' advises practitioners that the Legal Services Agency Northern Ireland (‘the Agency’) will be changing service provider in relation to

RESCINDED - Circular 'LSA 19-19 - LAMS-Short Messaging Service (SMS) for solicitors and other employees' will be of interest to those solicitors, their support staff and third parties registered to use LAMS.

RESCINDED - Circular 'LSA 18-19 - LAMS-Short Messaging Service (SMS) for barristers' will be of interest to those barristers , their support staff and third parties registered to use LAMS.

Circular 'LSA 17-19 - Notification of Industrial Action on 26 July 2019' advises practitioners that on 26 July, like other public sector bodies, the LSA will be able to offer very limited services due to industrial action.

Circular 'LSA 16-19 - Interpreters post go-live transitional arrangements' supplements circular 14/19 by expanding the post go-live transitional arrangem

Circular 'LSA 15-19 - Children order proceedings - NIGALA cases on LAMS' will be of interest to practitioners who are appointed by the Northern Ireland Guardian Ad Litem Agency (NIGALA) to represent minors in specified Children Order proceedings and who are applying fo

Circular 'LSA 14-19 - LAMS - Post go-live transitional arrangements' replaces Circular 10/19 (save for paragraphs 8,9,10 & 12) and sets out the limited transitional arrangements which will continue to be available for the period 1 July 2019 to 30 September 2019, re

Circular 'LSA 13-19 - Requirements for submitting requests for payment on LAMS' draws practitioners’ attention to a number of business requirements when submitting a payment request to the Agency via LAMS.

The Legal Services Agency (LSA) is pleased to advise that its new case management system 'LAMS' has been accepted into operational service and will be available to practitioners from 1 July 2019.

Circular 'LSA 11-19 - LAMS attaching barristers to legally aided cases' provides additional information on the requirement in LAMS to attach counsel to cases.

Circular 'LSA 10-19 - Additional transitional arrangements for the introduction of LAMS' will be of interest to all practitioners as it sets out additional arrangements to assist with the transition to and embedding of the new Legal Aid Management System (LAMS). 

Circular 'LSA 09-19 - Revised transitional arrangements for the introduction of LAMS' will be of interest to all practitioners as it sets out the indicative timelines for the arrangements leading up to the introduction of the new Legal Aid Management System (LAMS), on

Circular 'LSA 08-19 - Attaching counsel to existing legal aid cases' notifies the profession about the processes for attaching barristers' details to existing and new legal aid cases.