This section of our site provides information for the legal aid professional, such as solicitors.  If you want to apply for legal aid, visit our getting legal help section.

Latest news

Grant funding - applications invited

The Board is inviting organisations such as advice agencies, charities, local authorities, law centres and firms of solicitors to apply for grants to provide new or enhanced legal advice or representation services, directly aimed at people affected by the economic downturn, on related issues such as repossession and debt - read more.

Glasgow duty plans - interim interdict refused
A petition has been raised in the Court of Session against the Board for judicial review of a decision taken by the us to allocate further slots to the PDSO in the Glasgow Sheriff and District Court duty plans for 2009.

A motion for interim interdict was refused at the Court of Session on 24th March. Read more in news.

16 June 2009 - Increases in civil fees - letter and form for claiming backdated fees

24 April 2009 - Issues arising from the new civil forms / civil legal assistance simplification mailing 5

3 April 2009 Legal aid changes from Tuesday 7 April 2009 - new Keycard
This letter to all legal aid solicitors contains information on revised financial eligibility limits effective 7 April 2009. It includes the new Keycard and information on the major changes to civil legal aid eligibility. It also has information on new category codes for advice and assistance, with a new Card, and details on using the Equality Card. Also included are details of revised information leaflets and the order form for materials. Read the letter and enclosures.

2 April 2009 - Summary criminal mailing 10 - Common issues and misunderstandings
This mailing provides guidance on the main issues where there still appear to be problems and misunderstandings about the new summary criminal legal assistance system. It also includes extra guidance on a number of issues the Law Society has raised with us as part of the review and monitoring arrangements for the reforms. Read the letter.

25 March 2009 - Mailing to all civil legal aid solicitors about major changes to financial eligibility for civil legal aid from Tuesday 7 April 2009.

25 February 2009 - view a mailshot to all civil firms about using the new CIV/ACC/CONC form for cases with an effective date before 2 March 2009

February 2009  Criminal quality assurance scheme - read the draft outline of the new scheme (in pdf) and the draft criteria for use by peer reviewers in summary, solemn and appeals cases (in pdf).