Guidance on interim block fee claims in civil legal aid

Access guidance and view screenshots from Legal Aid Online on how to submit an interim block fee claim in civil legal aid.

Enter the Legal Aid Reference Number (LARN) & Complete account summary screen
- You then have to to select the method you will be framing your final account from one of the options shown below.
- Don’t worry if you are not sure what method you will use, as you can change this prior to making your final claim.
- NOTE: Selecting the online option allows you to draft your account as it progresses.
Select INTERIM from within the SYNOPSIS tab, select FEES as type of interim claim, confirm case has not concluded and select the interim fee criteria
Select submission method
- Interim block fee claims are allowable for completed blocks of work.
- These block fees are subject to assessment before we make a payment.
- It is therefore necessary to submit a copy of your draft account.
- Where you are unable to frame your draft account using online work items a process has been created that allows you to upload your account as a document.
- On completion of the INTERIM FEE criteria you will be asked to confirm which method of submission you will be using.
Upload your interim fee account
- Click SAVE to go direct to the work breakdown tab.
- The INTERIM FEE FOR UPLOAD CLAIM work item is automatically generated for you.
- Click the paper clip icon next to the work item to upload your account.
- You will be unable to submit your claim if you do not upload your account.
- You then need to click on the work item in order to enter the necessary supporting detail.
- Where a subsequent interim fee claim is possible ensure the dates you enter for the subsequent claim do not overlap with the previous interim fee claim.
- Click SAVE & CLOSE.
Submitting your interim fee claim using online work items
- After saving you are taken direct to the WORK BREAKDOWN tab.
- You can then add online work items in the normal manner by clicking ADD WORK ITEM and selecting the completed block fees that form part of your interim fee claim.
Select work item(s) and confirm interim fee claim
- Where you have uploaded a copy of your interim fee account, tick the SELECT box for the INTERIM FEE OR UPLOAD CLAIM work item.
- Where your interim fee claim is being made by using online block fee work items, tick the SELECT box for the fees that form part of your interim fee claim.
- Click REQUEST PAYMENT to proceed (for both scenarios).
Review claim, complete declaration and click SUBMIT TO SLAB
- The WORK BREAKDOWN tab will show that the payment request has been submitted.
- You will receive a notification advising the interim claim has been received.
Submit final claim on conclusion
Where your interim claim was submitted using the upload feature
- Select “Final” option and complete the synopsis.
- Within the summary tab you can revert to “paper” or continue and add online work items.
- To add work items/provide a breakdown of your paper account proceed to the work breakdown tab.
- Below the work items/paper account breakdown a message will be displayed advising of the value of the interim fee claim that will be deducted automatically form the claim you are making.
- This means your final claim should include all fees, even those paid previously by way of an interim fee claim.
- NOTE: Where you have been paid interim outlays these should NOT be included in your final claim.
- You will require to submit the synopsis for approval prior to being able to submit your paper claim.
Where your interim fee claim was submitted using online work items:
- Select “Final” option and complete the synopsis.
- Your final claim needs to be submitted using online work items also.
- This means you do NOT include any of the block fee work items that were paid as part of your interim online fees claim.
- You will require to submit the synopsis for approval prior to being able to submit your claim.