Latest news on reform of summary criminal legal assistance
2 September: Seminars - extra dates in Dumfries and Fife
We have been holding a series of seminars about the reforms which are mainly focused on account issues, and now have two further dates in Fife and Dumfries. Read
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:
25 July 2008: Mailing 8: Summer criminal legal assistance reform seminars
10 July Mailing 7: Criminal accounts synopsis forms including new duty forms
This mailing includes guidance and copies of new accounts forms:
- Criminal legal assistance accounts synopsis forms and guidance - two new forms are being automatically issued. Read more:
- cover letter about the accounts synopsis form for criminal legal assistance and a new accounts synopsis form for criminal ABWOR post conviction work chargeable on a detailed time and line basis (except excluded proceedings).
- guidance on completing the new synopsis forms including example copies
- CRIM/ACCTS - criminal legal assistance accounts synopsis form for supplementary accounts
- CRIM/ACCTS/AB - criminal ABWOR account synopsis form for supplementary accounts.
- Duty forms - two new accounts synopsis forms have been introduced to record duty solicitor work from 30 June 2008. Please note that these forms are not yet available from our printers, so you should photocopy the forms sent, or print ones from the links below. Read:
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. Also enclosed with the letter are printed copies of the Category Codes Card and Equality Card, which are in use from 30 June 2008.
27 June - Criminal application form starter packs - All starter packs have been dispatched and should be delivered on Friday 27 June.
27 June - Legal Aid Online Update June 2008
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. Read the update.
(This update was issued by email to all Legal Aid Online users and also issued as a postal letter, enclosing copies of the mandate forms to criminal solicitors who use Legal Aid Online).
Legal Aid Online Client Mandate Forms:
- Criminal advice and assistance/ABWOR - new form that must be used for cases from 30 June 2008
- Civil and children's advice and assistance
This form is a renamed version of the current mandate form, but updated to reflect that a new criminal version is available. You do not have to update the current mandate form if you use it only for civil and children's cases.
25 June Mailing 5: Forms and guidance update
This mailing provides 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
- the next guidance mailings that we plan to issue.
The following materials are now available online to read:
- mailing 5 letter including the new criminal advice and assistance/ABWOR category codes
- Keycard 2008 - one page insert that you can print off that lists the changes effective 30 June 2008 which should be made to the current issued Keycard (as included in the above letter)
- Keycard 2008 - June 2008 updated version - this includes the above changes - this is only available online and updated printed versions are not available
- 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.
On Friday our website will also include:
- pdf versions of the new criminal forms - for use only where you have not received printed supplies
- order form for legal aid forms and other materials
- Legal Aid Online mandate forms.
20 June Mailing 4: Summary criminal fixed payments guidance
18 June 2008 - Form starter pack mailings
Solicitors should start to receive starter packs of forms from Thursday 19 June. Mailing 2 advised how many forms we will send each solicitor. The cover letter and label on packages advises which forms and how many of them you will be sent. Please note that forms are being sent in three mailings:
- mailing A - summary criminal application forms
- mailing B - criminal advice and assistance/ABWOR application forms
- mailing C - other criminal forms
Mailings are being sent by DX, LP and Fedex courier delivery. If you are to receive more than one of any pack, you will receive multiple mailings, sent at different times.
Mailing 3 - 11 June 2008 - Draft guidance and forms
This mailing includes a copy of the draft guidelines and drafts of the new forms for the reforms to summary criminal legal assistance, which will be implemented on 30 June 2008. This information is also being provided at seminars. Read:
At our information seminars we are also providing the new regulations for the changes:
Mailing 2 - 9 June 2008 - Information on the reforms and starter packs of forms
- Read mailing 2 which gives more details on the changes that will be implemented on 30 June and the changes to criminal forms.
- This letter was issued to every criminal registered solicitor, with details on the size of starter pack of new forms that will automatically be issued to them.If you did not receive a letter and wish to order the new criminal forms, please complete this request form.
Mailing 1 - 30 May 2008 - Implementing the reforms
Read the first 2008 mailing about the implemetation of the reforms on Monday 30 June:
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