Our
strategy
The commitment to improving and developing legal aid in Scotland to
provide greater opportunities for access to justice is central to the
strategy announced by the Scottish Legal Aid Board when it published
its Corporate Plan 2004-2006 in May 2004.
The plan, titled "Opportunities for access," covers
the second year of a three-year planning period that started in 2003.
It summaries the Board's progress during the past year and sets out
what it aims to achieve during the next two years.
The Board
has identified three key themes to its strategy for 2003-2006: * increasing
access to quality assured legal advice, assistance and representation
for those who need it and who qualify for legal aid
* working
with others to improve the efficient and effective operation of the legal
aid system and its interaction with the justice system
* increasing
the Board's efficiency and effectiveness, and providing best value.
Jean
Couper, our Chairman said on launching the Plan: "We made substantial
progress in the past year and we expect significant further changes
in the next two years in access to justice and the operation of legal
aid. Our corporate plan sets out our commitment to working with the
Scottish Executive and others to continue the development of the legal
aid system and to deliver a range of work which will provide greater
opportunities for people to access more efficient, effective and quality
assured legal aid services."
Legal aid does not stand on its own, but is a key component of the justice
system. Scottish Ministers are committed to modernising the justice system,
and are taking this forward through new legislation and reviews. The
Justice Minster, Cathy Jamieson MSP, announced a strategic review of
the delivery of legal aid, advice and information in October 2003.
Jean Couper said: "We welcome the review and
believe that it provides an excellent opportunity to engage with stakeholders
and think creatively about how to improve the scope and operation of
the legal aid system and the delivery of publicly funded legal advice,
benefiting the people of Scotland."
"We look forward to actioning some of the recommendations
later this year, and to plan the implementation of others to be delivered
in the longer term."
The Board's plan for 2004-2006 details that it expects to continue to
achieve its higher performance targets. It also announces the introduction
of significantly shorter timescales and increased accuracy targets for
Legal Aid Online services, where applications and accounts are made electronically,
rather than on paper.
The plan sets out in detail the main projects and tasks that the Board
will deliver over the next two years. These include:
* all of the Board's services will be available online by the end of
2005. This will enable applications and accounts to be made through a
secure internet site, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the
legal aid system and making it easier, quicker and more cost effective.
Advice and assistance online services will be the first stage and will
be launched and available to the legal profession in 2004.
* working with others to implement reform of criminal legal assistance,
including taking forward changes resulting from reviews of the sheriff
court and High Court
* the reform of civil advice and assistance so that it is more efficient
to operate and works effectively alongside the reformed civil legal aid
system
* further improving the Board's service to its customers, including improving
communications and information such as ensuring comprehensive and up
to date guidance is available to the legal profession through an online
Legal Aid Handbook
Our Annual
Report then reports on our progress against our targets and plans.
Read our Corporate
Plan
You can read
our Corporate
Plan 2004-2006 in pdf format.
If
you would like to receive a printed copy, or view previous
Corporate Plans, visit our
publications centre.
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