How the duty scheme operates

The duty plans will usually run for a 12 month period. Allocations across the various plans will be dependent on the number of eligible, registered firms and solicitors who apply and meet necessary criteria for involvement in the scheme.

The plans will now list alphabetically the firms that have selected each geographical area. Please note that if we have three or more local firms, we will not show the non-local firms who have selected the area, however their options will be retained should the local firms be unable to assist. Should this situation arise, we will then look to instruct a solicitor from a firm out with the area.

We will contact firms on a rotating basis, initially contacting the local firms, if they are unable to cover the request we will thereafter contact the non-local firms, to ensure fairness of distribution of duty requests.

All plans are published on our website and distributed to firms and the relevant Reporters by local authority area.