Scottish Legal Aid Board Online


	Reform of summary criminal legal assistance Implemented 30 June 2008 25 September 2008 - Review and monitoring of the reforms of summary criminal legal assistance - latest monthly statistics on applications and grants, and grant rate for August 2008 now available. 28 August 2008: Mailing 9: Further guidance This mailing contains further guidance from issued raised at seminars and since the reforms were implemented. Read the letter which contains advice on key issues and forms. Also read the more detailed frequently asked questions guidance. Visit our special criminal reform section to read more including previous mailings.

	7 August 2008 Duty Plans 2009 This mailing to solicitors who do criminal legal aid work details how to apply for next year's duty plans - read more 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. 27 June 2008 New Category Codes Card and Equality Card for use by solicitors - 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? Did you know that most applications for advice and assistance/ABWOR are now submitted online? Read more about the service and find out why you should join the hundreds of solicitor firms benefiting from our online service.

	Jobs Board vacancies Part-time Solicitor Financial Controller Research Officer we also welcome speculative applications. PDSO vacancies We currently have no vacancies in the PDSO.

	Current tenders trade waste collection service Support consolidation (OJEU tender) External Penetration Testing Provision of Debt Recovery consultancy


	News 5 August 2008 New legal advice service benefits people across the Highlands and Islands - read the news release

	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.

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