Publications

Circular 'LSA 03-24 - Practitioner file review and recoupment update' will be of interest to all practitioners as it provides important lessons to be learnt from the Practitioner File Review initiative.

AccessNI Circulars 2024

Circular 'LSA 02-24 - Criminal Case Review Commission (CCRC)' will be of interest to practitioners who will engage with the CCRC and how legal aid supports this process. This Circular has been issued in conjunction with the CCRC.

Newsletters 2024

Circular 'LSA 01-24 - Notification of industrial action on Thursday 18 January 2024' is to advise practitioners that on 18 January 2024, like other public sector bodies, the LSA will be able to offer very limited services due to industrial action and as such will have

Circular 'LSA 19-23 - Practitioner file review' informs practitioners of the new guidance document which provides advice on how evidence can be submitted in respect of the Legal Services Agency (LSA) Practitioner File Reviews.

The Legal Services Agency (LSA) is pleased to advise that it will be introducing new functionality to its case management system LAMS. This functionality will be available from 30 November 2023.

Circular 'LSA 17-23 - Applicant declarations - all levels of service' informs practitioners of a change to the format of the applicant declarations for all levels of service which are to be used from 06 November 2023.

LSANI circular 'LSA 16-23 - Closed material procedure in legacy/collusion cases' advises practitioners of the new guidance note issued to provide clarity on authority to deal with closed material in legacy/collusion cases.

Circular 'LSA 15-23 - Payment update' provides practitioners with an update on the progress of payments from Account NI.

Circular 'LSA 14-23 - Migration of the Legal Aid Management System (LAMS) to new hosting infrastructure' provides information for practitioners on the details relating to the migration of LAMS to a new hosting infrastructure.

This circular is to advise practitioners that on 22 September 2023, like other public sector bodies, the LSA will be able to offer very limited services due to industrial action and as such will have to prioritise the services which it can offer.

Circular 'LSA 12-23 - Enhancements to suppliers portal on LAMS ' advises practitioners that it will be introducing new functionality to its case management system LAMS.

Circular 'LSA 11-23 - Universal Credit - determination of financial eligibility' advises practitioners of how the Legal Services Agency (LSA) will assess the financial eligibility of applicants for civil legal services when the applicant is in rec

LSANI circular LSA 10-23 - Legal aid contact methods provides details on how practitioners should contact the Agency.

This Circular announces a range of new functionality to LAMS. This functionality will be available from 4 July 2023.

Circular 'LSA 08-23 - Account NI update - disruption to payments in September' will be of interest to all practitioners as it announces that for a three-week period in September 2023 the LSA will be unable to make payments as a result of an upgrade to the Account

This Circular provides an update to all practitioners on changes to the way the Legal Services Agency (LSA) will determine new requests for additional funding under an application for Exceptional Preparation in respect of Crown Court cases.

This Circular announces that the annual reregistration process for users of LAMS will take place during the month of June. All suppliers must reregister during June if they wish to continue to submit applications on LAMS.

This circular is to advise practitioners that on 26 April 2023, like other public sector bodies, the LSA will be able to offer very limited services due to industrial action and as such will have to prioritise the services which it can offer.