Scottish Legal Aid Board Online


	Reform of summary criminal legal assistance Implementation date: 30 June 2008 27 June Mailing 6: Category Codes Card, Equality Card and ordering forms This mailing provides an update on form starter packs and materials for use from 30 June 2008. It also includes a list of contacts for any questions or queries about the summary criminal reforms. Read more. 27 June - Criminal application form starter packs - All starter packs have been dispatched and should be delivered on Friday 27 June. As explained in Mailing 5, if you have not received printed forms, you can now print off the forms by using the pdf versions which are now available from our Forms page. 27 June 2008: Legal Aid Online Update - criminal reforms changes from 30 June This update contains information about changes to Legal Aid Online that are linked to reforms of criminal legal assistance, coming into force on 30 June 2008. It outlines the changes to the service, the introduction of new Client Mandate Forms for use from 30 June and details of guidance and online learning available to help you. 25 June 2008: Mailing 5 contains details on application form starter packs, and what to do if you have not received forms for 30 June, changes to Keycard 2008, category codes for criminal advice and assistance/ABWOR from 30 June 2008 and the next guidance mailings that we plan to issue. Also now available in our reform section: Keycard 2008 - June 2008 - web only Category Codes Card - June 2008 Equality Card 2008 Visit our special criminal reform section to read more including previous mailings.

	May 2008 Legal Aid Online - new eLearning courses - Our new online eLearning service lets solicitors find out how to use Legal Aid Online. You can learn the topics that are of the most interest to you, and at your own pace. Read more.

	Legal Aid Online users login Using Legal Aid Online? find out about the criminal changes from 30 June- read more Not using Legal Aid Online? Read more about the service or come to one of demonstration events

	Jobs Board vacancies Facilities Assistant Compliance Officers (2 posts) we welcome speculative applications. PDSO vacancies there are no current vacancies.

	Vision To provide access to justice for those eligible and in need of it, in a cost-effective manner. Legal aid allows people who would not otherwise be able to afford it to get help for their legal problems. The Scottish Legal Aid Board was set up in 1987 to manage legal aid in Scotland. Read more about our work in the about us section.

	Annual Report 2006-2007 Over 400,000 legal aid grants made, as costs increase to £150 million During a year where major changes and developments were made to improve legal aid, people benefited from 408,654 grants of legal assistance, according to our annual report for 2006-2007. The cost to the taxpayer of legal aid was £150.2 million, an increase of 2% or £2.3 million. The increase reverses the fall in costs seen the previous year and has brought spending to the second highest ever level. Read more in Annual Report 2006-2007 section.

Civil or criminal legal assistance helps people to get legal advice and "representation", which means a solicitor to put their case in court. Find out more about legal assistance, if you may be eligible and how to apply.

Solicitors who provide legal assistance are registered with us. You can search to find your nearest solicitor.

For civil cases, find out how opponents have the right to object to an application for, or grant of, civil legal aid.

This section provides solicitors and advocates with the latest news and a wide range of useful legal aid resources, including:

forms
the Scottish Legal Aid Handbook
our newsletter, the Recorder
mailshots and guidance publications.

LEGAL AID HELPLINE

To find out more about legal aid and if you may qualify, or where to find a legal aid solicitor or order our leaflets you can also call our Legal Aid Helpline on 0845 122 8686. It is open 7 days a week 7am to 11pm. (Please note that we do not provide legal advice. )

Access to information
We are committed to openness. Under the new Freedom of Information laws, you can read our Publications Scheme and access materials we regularly publish - find out more.

You can use Browsealoud on this site. Browsealoud reads web pages aloud for people who find it difficult to read online - download the free service to let you listen.