Legal Services Cases Committee

The Committee deals with:

• applications for legal aid to appeal to the Supreme Court requiring the input of the Committee
• applications for legal aid to sue solicitors arising out of professional negligence where there is a split decision between reporters
• applications for legal aid to raise an action against SLAB
• applications for legal aid referred by the Legal Services department or external reporters, including cases which may be potentially high cost, high profile, or sensitive in nature for decision or advice from the committee
• identifying policy or procedural issues for consideration by the Legal Services Policy Committee or Scottish Government
• considering significant legal aid accounts from time to time, if requested.

The Committee shall refer to the Legal Services Policy Committee for decision in any case upon which it is unable to reach a decision or which appears to raise a question of policy or general principle that is unclear or undecided.

The Committee shall consider any review applications arising from cases initially considered by the Legal Services Policy Committee in which the Committee have not previously been required to make a decision in relation to the application.

The Board uses external legal professionals as reporters and co-opted members to:

• assist in the consideration of some legal aid applications
• attend some meetings of our Legal Services Cases Committee.

The following legal professionals are members of our Legal Services Sub-Committee:

• Denise Loney
• Andrew Pollock.