Thursday 13 May 2004

OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACCESS

The commitment to improving and developing legal aid in Scotland to provide greater opportunities for access to justice is central to the strategy announced today by the Scottish Legal Aid Board when it published its Corporate Plan 2004-2006.

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.

Jean Couper, Chairman of the Scottish Legal Aid Board said:
"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.

There are three key themes to the Board's strategy for 2004-2006:

* 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

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

"Opportunities for access," the Board's Corporate Plan 2004-2006 is available on its website at www.slab.org.uk and from its Communications department.

ENDS

Journalists please contact Colin Sim tel (direct) 0131 240 2033, or email simco@slab.org.uk

NOTES FOR EDITORS
1. Legal aid allows people who would not otherwise be able to afford it to get help for their legal problems. Legal aid and advice and assistance can only be accessed through a solicitor.

2. In 2002/2003 the costs of legal aid to the taxpayer (net Legal Aid Fund expenditure) was £135.1 million. In 2002/2003 there were 317,042 advice and assistance intimations, 85,915 grants of criminal legal aid, 13,480 grants of civil legal aid, 3,118 grants of children's legal aid and 239 grants for contempt of court.

3. The Scottish Legal Aid Board was set up in 1987 to manage legal aid in Scotland. The Board employs around 300 full-time staff. Twelve Board members, appointed by Scottish Ministers, oversee the work.

The Board's mission is to promote the development and delivery of appropriate access to quality legal assistance for those eligible, in a cost-effective manner.

The work of the Board includes:
* advising Scottish Ministers on the current operation and development of legal aid provision
* managing the Legal Aid Fund
* investigating different ways of delivering a legal aid service, for example, by running pilot schemes
* developing operational plans and procedures, including eBusiness, to improve the delivery and administration of legal aid
* assessing applications for legal aid
* examining solicitors' and advocates' accounts for legal aid work, and paying them for the work they have done
* determining civil legal aid contributions and then collecting these as well as expenses, and money won or kept as a result of civil legal aid or advice and assistance
* registering firms and solicitors under the Board's Code of Practice in relation to criminal legal assistance, monitoring their ongoing compliance
* registering firms for civil legal assistance and inspecting firm's administration arrangements
* investigating and pursuing abuse of legal aid.

4. For more information, visit the Board's website www.slab.org.uk

ENDS