Practitioner information - criminal legal assistance practitioners

The Code of Practice (pdf) sets out standards of service in three main areas – management and administration systems, quality of service and standards of professional conduct. Any solicitor or firm planning to carry out criminal legal assistance work must comply with these standards and apply to the Board for inclusion in the Criminal Legal Assistance Register.

The Register gives the names and addresses of all solicitors and firms who are registered to provide criminal legal assistance. It is displayed on our website, and a copy is also available at the Board’s offices at 44 Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh.  View the register now.

Our team of Compliance Auditors carries out a programme of visits to registered solicitors and firms to monitor continued compliance with the Code.

For copies of the Code of Practice, information on how to apply for registration or advice on any aspect of compliance please contact the Board’s Criminal Legal Assistance Registration Unit (CLARU) by telephone on 0131 226 7061, ext. 444 or contact us at the usual address.