Sanction applications before a grant of full legal aid is made

While carrying out special urgency work, you can apply for approval for:

  • The employment of counsel
  • Employment of an expert
  • Work of an unusual nature
  • Work likely to involve unusually large expenditure

You should follow the usual procedures for applying for approval. The sanction request has to be linked to the work you are doing under special urgency cover.

Please note: at present our application system does not have a sanction function. If you are seeking approval in this situation you need to send a notification. Use the special urgency reference number and explain the need for approval. We will give our decision via a notification.

Availability of special urgency cover after full legal aid is refused
Status of your client

In this section

Special Urgency for proceedings under the 2011 and 2019 Acts

Status of your client

Find out whether your client is a legally assisted person when work is done for them under a grant of special urgency.

Special Urgency for proceedings under the 2011 and 2019 Acts

Legal aid application must be submitted within 28 days of commencement of urgent work

Find out how to avoid non payment of the special urgency work you carry out.

Special Urgency for proceedings under the 2011 and 2019 Acts

Extent of a grant of special urgency

Find out what work will be covered by a grant of special urgency.

Special Urgency for proceedings under the 2011 and 2019 Acts

What happens if your client does not comply with our requests for information?

Find out what happens if your client does not provide information requested by us to enable a means assessment to be carried out.

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