Scottish Legal Aid Board Online



	May 2008 Legal Aid Online - new eLearning courses - Our new online eLearning service lets solicitors find out how to use Legal Aid Online. You can learn the topics that are of the most interest to you, and at your own pace. Read more. 8 April 2008 Summary criminal legal assistance - Cabinet Secretary for Justice publishes final proposals for reform following discussion with profession - read the Government news release 4 April 2008 New Keycard 2008 Revised financial eligibility limits are effective 7 April 2008, as well as new category codes for advice and assistance, and revised information leaflets. Read letter with details of changes, Keycard 2008- effective 7 April 2008 or Category Codes Card 2008 4 April 2008 Criminal legal aid accounts synopsis forms As part of the successful introduction of a new criminal applications computer system, we are changing the criminal account synopsis forms. Read the cover letter, guidance and examples of the four new forms. 1 April 2008 New performance targets for 2008-2009 - read about our further improved targets for dealing with applications and accounts. March 2008 New improved "find my nearest legal aid solicitor" available - an improved search service for finding legal aid solicitors is now availble. The service now allows a search by type of civil case, includes more contact details for solicitor offices, and offers a new easy to use map service that also offers travel directions. 14 March 2008 Civil Legal Assistance Update - read the latest update on simplifying civil legal assistance and other matters. 29 February 2008 Recruitment and retention of Scottish lawyers research- read more
	Reform of summary criminal legal assistance - visit our special section to read more - including the latest on the revised proposals.


	Legal Aid Online users login Using Legal Aid Online? come to one our roadshows - read more Not using Legal Aid Online? Read more about the service or come to one of demonstration events

	Jobs Board vacancies Administrative assistants we welcome speculative applications. PDSO vacancies there are no current vacancies Traineeships Read more information



	21 February 2008 Mental Health Act (2003) reclaimed by service users and professionals at unique event in Dunfermline - read more 1 October 2007 Over 400,000 legal aid grants made, as costs increase to £150 million - Annual Report 2006-2007 read our media release or visit our Annual Report 2006-2007 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 including: Annual Report 2006-2007 Payments made to solicitor firms, advocates and solicitor advocates Media information

	To promote the development and delivery of appropriate access to quality legal assistance for those eligible, 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.

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.

You can use Browsealoud on this site. Browsealoud reads web pages aloud for people who find it difficult to read online - download the free service to let you listen.