https://www.slab.org.uk/guidance/closed-material-procedure-under-the-justice-and-security-act-2013/
https://www.slab.org.uk/guidance/closed-material-procedure-under-the-justice-and-security-act-2013/
The Closed Material Procedure allows for the disclosure of information sensitive to national security in closed proceedings, to a judge and a Special Advocate appointed to represent the other party’s interests, without having to disclose the material to the other party, their usual legal representatives, or the public.
Where a grant of legal aid is in place for the underlying ‘open’ proceedings, there is no need for a fresh legal aid application to be submitted in respect of the Closed Material Procedure.
You should notify us with an online message that the Closed Material Procedure has been invoked and provide details.
The applicant and the nominated solicitor do not have a role in the closed proceedings, so we would not expect significant costs to be incurred in connection with the Closed Material Procedure itself.
However, if needed, a case cost increase application may be submitted to cover the cost of any additional work necessitated by this procedure.
After a grant, and prior approval needed
This page includes information on arrangements for the employment of counsel under civil legal aid. It includes information on: the tests applied in our assessment of requests for counsel (whether case-related, or linked to your circumstances); timing of requests; limited use of counsel for opinions etc.; and retrospective grants for the employment of counsel.
After a grant, and prior approval needed
This page includes information on the employment of expert witnesses in civil legal aid. The guidance includes information on when prior approval is required; the application procedure (including use of templates); how to distinguish an expert witness and the status of certain common types of witnesses; timing of applications; how we will assess experts’ costs; and cost limit information.