This section of our site provides information for the legal aid professional, such as solicitors.  If you want to apply for legal aid, visit our getting legal help section.

Reform of summary criminal legal assistance - implemented 30 June 2008

• 2 September - Extra summary criminal seminars in Fife and Dumfries - read letter to solicitors in the area about the sessions, or book a place online now.
  

• 29 August 2008 - web only: Review and monitoring of the reforms of summary criminal legal assistance - latest monthly statistics on applications and grants, and grant rate for July 2008 now available. This information will be updated monthly.
  These figures show that although grants of advice and assistance have fallen compared to June, the total number of ABWOR grants and summary criminal legal aid applications were higher than in June.
  
  
• 28 August 2008: Mailing 9: Further guidance
  This mailing contains further guidance from issued raised at seminars and since the reforms were implemented. (This mailing contains information previously published online). Read:
• the letter which contains advice on key issues and forms
• the more detailed frequently asked questions guidance.
  
  
• Visit our special criminal reform section to read more about the changes effective 30 June.
  
  

• Legal Aid Online users - login
  
  
• Legal Aid Online users - read about the changes from 30 June including new client mandate forms.
  

• Not using Legal Aid Online? Read more or register now to get started using the service.
  
  

• Legal aid forms - download electronic forms or order printed supplies
  
  
• Scottish Legal Assistance Handbooks
  
  
• Current mailshots and The Recorder and previous Guidance manuals, guidelines, category codes, keycard, accounts rates
  

LATEST NEWS

20 November 08 – Read a mailing to all firms about:

• Employment and support allowance – changes to eligibility for advice and assistance and legal aid
• Children’s advice and assistance – further guidance
• Assessing capital in advice and assistance applications
• Criminal and Civil Legal Assistance Registers
• St Andrew’s Day office closure.

2 September 2008 Duty Plans 2009 reminder - read letter to all criminal legal assistance solicitors

7 August 2008 Duty Plans 2009
This mailing to all criminal legal aid practitioners provides information about how to apply to be on the 2009 duty plans. The closing date is 13 September 2008. You can read:

• cover letter
• Duty Plans eligibility criteria
• application form for all courts excluding Edinburgh
• application form for Edinburgh courts

24 July 2008 Changes to children's legal assistance
A mailing to practitioners who undertake children’s legal assistance work has been issued about changes effective 1 September 2008. Read the mailing including information on new guidance and a revised children's advice and assistance accounts synopsis form.

Reform of summary criminal legal assistance

Please see the listing of mailings above or visit our special criminal reform section to read more.

Revised materials recently issued:

• Keycard 2008 - one page insert that you can print off that lists the changes to criminal advice and assistance/ABWOR effective 30 June 2008 which should be made to the current issued Keycard
  
• Keycard 2008 - June 2008 updated version - only available online
  
• Category Codes Card - June 2008 - new version of the card detailing all category codes for advice and assistance/ABWOR, in use from 30 June 2008 - please note that all solicitors will be issued with printed copies of this card
  
• Equality Card 2008 - new version of the card which is used to complete the equality questions on criminal application forms - please note that all solicitors will be issued with printed copies of this card
• order form for requesting supplies of legal aid materials available to solicitors.

4 July 2008 New civil legal aid direction
The Scottish Ministers have given the Board a new Direction which comes into force from 4 July 2008. Read the Civil Legal Aid for Defamation or Verbal Injury Proceedings (Scotland) Direction 2008.
Please note that Ministers have revoked the Civil Legal Aid for Defamation or Verbal Injury Proceedings (Scotland) Direction 2007(b).

Civil legal aid fees increase
23 May - Kenny MacAskill, Cabinet Secretary for Justice has announced improvements to civil legal aid fee rates for solicitors, including an increase in the value of the unit on which the block fees are based from the current £19 to £21. Read more.

New improved "find my nearest legal aid solicitor" search service now available
March 2008 - An improved search service for finding legal aid solicitors is now available on our website. The service now allows a search by type of civil case and includes more information on solicitor offices, such as opening times. The search service also has a new look and is easier to use. It uses the latest mapping technology that enable members of the public to obtain travel directions or have a location map for the solicitor’s office sent to their mobile phone.

We wish to thank all the civil firms who responded to our survey in late 2007 to provide this additional information. If your firm does not have additional details listed, or has changes or new offices, please complete this form about your office's legal aid services so that we can update our mapping service.