https://www.slab.org.uk/guidance/advice-and-assistance-applications-the-applicants-declaration/
https://www.slab.org.uk/guidance/advice-and-assistance-applications-the-applicants-declaration/
For every online advice and assistance application where you see your client face to face you must obtain and retain your client’s signature.
You can do this by either printing the completed online application (A&A only) or the client mandate AA LAO CIV, which you can download from our website.
You do not have to send us a copy, but as part of our audits and quality checks, we will seek verification that applications or mandates have been signed. If necessary, you may complete the online application in the absence of your client. However, it will remain your responsibility to ensure that your client reads, signs and dates the copy online application or mandate.
Your client must:
You should make sure that your client understands that, by signing this declaration:
Where your client is unable to sign
If the client is present and cannot sign then you need to provide an explanation when you submit your application via Legal Aid Online.
If you are not meeting your client in person then you must explain the terms of the declaration to them and obtain their verbal consent to its terms. You may then select the ‘client not present and agrees with the declaration terms’ option within Legal Aid Online.
See our guidance on solicitor and applicant signatures.
Advice and Assistance application procedures
This page includes information on how to apply for non-templated increases in expenditure under civil A&A. It covers the information you should provide us with; case-related factors to address in your application; the process for reconsideration of refused increases; the process for urgently needed increases; whether authority for retrospective increases is available; and other guidance you may wish to consider.