Solicitors’ signatures

The current position is that you should sign all the declaration forms (from 12 December 2022)

 In all types of Legal Aid, Advice and Assistance, and ABWOR cases, you have two choices for completing and signing the declarations:

  • use the paper declaration forms that are printable from our website, or
  • print the LAOL declaration (a “printable summary” of the grant or application), and add your “wet” signature and the date of signing, even where this has been pre populated by the system.

The ‘Signature of the Solicitor’ is populated with the name of the nominated solicitor and the ‘Date Signed’ in A&A/ABWOR cases where this is printed off after the grant of A&A/ABWOR has been submitted to us, and in all other types of application.

Where an electronic signature using a stylus is acceptable (from 14 December 2023)

We consider that it is acceptable for a solicitor using an electronic version of a paper form to apply a signature using a stylus (for example, iPencil) where a solicitor is signing for his or her own interest.

However, you should save the form, and keep a copy of the PDF version in the file (whether paper or electronic).

We consider it good practice to keep a copy in this way. It is a reasonable approach to evidencing and protecting against iPads or laptops malfunctioning or being lost or stolen.

We expect this for peer review and compliance audits where checks are made for the signed declarations in the files being reviewed.