TOOL: A&A increases and templates guide

For an increase for this topic we strongly recommend you use template 31.

If the arrears are still not paid after diligence, you should ask for a further increase, telling us what further steps of diligence you believe you need to take, and the increase needed. We will consider such applications on their individual merits.

You may make a fresh grant of advice and assistance to cover any work to be carried out on an appeal.

For an increase for this topic we strongly recommend you use template 9.

If you choose not to use the template, your request for an increase in authorised expenditure should

• clearly identify the purpose of the additional information and how it will help in the appeal hearing
• demonstrate that the work to be carried out is directly relevant to the reasons issued by the CICA for refusing the application at first instance.

Someone may apply for legal aid to appeal (or to oppose an appeal) to the Inner House of the Court of Session or the Supreme Court. If they were granted legal aid as the original petitioner in the case, we do not need to consider their means and they do not need to pay a contribution. However, we do need to consider probable cause and reasonableness and it will be necessary to intimate the application to the opponent.

For such an application for legal aid we need –

• an application form signed by the applicant or the solicitor.
• a statement from the solicitor and a copy for each opponent.
• a copy of the Ministers’ certificate, if there was no application for legal aid at first instance.

For an increase for this topic we strongly recommend you use template 6.

We may grant an increase to enable you to complete and submit a civil legal aid application.

• If you are not using any other template that relates to the subject matter of the advice and assistance, we recommend that you use template 8 “applying for civil legal aid”.
• If you have applied for or been granted a templated increase for some other aspect of work, we would not grant a templated increase simply to apply for legal aid. Some of the templates include applying for civil legal aid. Where this is not included you can just mark the box on the increase form for standard additional work. This gives you £300 to apply for civil legal aid.

For an increase for this topic we strongly recommend you use template 2.

We will also allow an increase where you can show it is necessary to attend with a client at any interview with the IND or instruct English agents where the interview takes place in England.

*Use custom increase, no template available*

Where an individual dies without leaving a will and the court appoints an executor to administer the estate, the executor may require a bond of caution. Bonds of caution are not required in small estates where the value of the estate is £36,000 or less. In addition, bonds of caution are not required where the whole estate is passing to a surviving spouse to meet their legal and prior rights.

The bond of caution provides indemnity to any beneficiaries of the estate if there is any error or maladministration by the executor.

If you wish to get funding under advice and assistance for the cost of the premium, you must ask for an increase in authorised expenditure.

Before we can consider any request for an increase, we need the following information:

• What is the value of the estate and, in particular, is it more than £30,000?
• Why are those involved in winding up the estate not meeting the costs of the premium for the bond of caution at the outset, ultimately recovering it from the estate?
• If there is no means for paying the premium of the bond of caution other than by an increase in authorised expenditure, you must give us detailed information to support this.
• Is the applicant the surviving spouse and are there other beneficiaries?

In the vast majority of cases, we would expect the solicitor or other parties involved in winding up the estate to meet the costs of the premium for the bond of caution. If this is not possible, you must give us full reasons why not to allow us to consider whether it would be reasonable to allow an increase in authorised expenditure.

Supervised and supported contact

The cost of paid for supervised contact may be allowed under advice and assistance where we are satisfied that it may help to resolve a dispute over contact without the need for litigation. You should ask us for funding to cover the cost of supervised and/or supported contact under advice and assistance where appropriate to help resolve a dispute. If you have a template increase you can select an additional work item to cover the cost of this work.

Information we have from contact centres and from court ordered sessions suggests that 10 supervised sessions are generally sufficient to show if contact is working well and can move on from being supervised to being supported or able to take place without supervision of any sort.  While we cannot fund this work indefinitely and at some point, contact will need to move from a centre this early support provides an early means of establishing if contact can work with initial sessions taking place in a safe environment to allow all parties to be assured that contact can work even if there have been issues between the parties in the past or if there has been a gap since contact was last exercised.

Requests for increases should:

• provide information about the number of supervised or supported contact sessions considered necessary;
• set out why it is anticipated that allowing such contact will be likely to allow parties to reach a final settlement in respect of any contact dispute; and
• in the event that the contact is not successful, information about why this was the case should be given if any additional funding is sought to negotiate matters further under advice and assistance or to apply for civil legal aid.

*Use custom increase, no template available*

For cases about the transfer of the family home between spouses, civil partners or cohabitees on separation, divorce or dissolution of civil partnership where no payment is changing hands, see the paragraph below..

Before agreeing to the use of public funds for conveyancing, we must be persuaded there is a good reason to do so. Where an applicant is entering a voluntary transaction for the purchase or sale of heritable property, this is unlikely. Applicants should generally be expected to take the cost of conveyancing into account before deciding to continue with an entirely voluntary transaction.

There are, however, circumstances where we would, in general, consider it appropriate to grant an increase:

• Where the conveyance is for the transfer from one spouse to another of the family home on separation, divorce or dissolution of civil partnership, and no payment in respect of the transfer is changing hands.  Where the conveyance is for the transfer from one cohabitee to another of the former home following the breakdown of the relationship and no payment in respect of the transfer is changing hands.
• To allow an applicant to complete title to heritable property following the death of a spouse or civil partner.
• To allow the transfer of property on the death of a spouse or civil partner.
• Where the applicant is in severe financial difficulties and has to sell heritable property, but is unable to meet the costs from any other source. In this situation, if a bank or building society has already begun proceedings for the sale, it would not normally be reasonable to grant an increase unless you put forward a good case to show that
• the applicant is likely to suffer severe financial disadvantage because of the way in which the security holder will carry out the sale compared with the situation if the applicant disposes of the property
• the applicant benefits in some way rather than the creditor(s) – if it is only the creditor(s) who will benefit, it would generally be more reasonable for them to pay the expenses rather than public funds.
• Where the transaction is not voluntary. Sometimes, a block of property is being improved and an applicant has to contribute and instruct a solicitor to prepare loan documentation that would otherwise not be necessary.
• Where work is needed in connection with us taking security over the applicant’s property, arising from recovering or preserving property in civil proceedings.
• Where the conveyance is in respect of arrangements to provide living accommodation to an adult in respect of whom there is a guardianship order in terms of the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000.

Where we allow an increase to cover conveyancing costs, the following may be included

• any work to be carried out for preparing the disposition, security documents and any assignation of a policy or policies
• other expenses normally incurred in a conveyancing transaction including registration dues, search fees and the cost of getting local authority reports where necessary
• any outlays, in full (other than those specifically excluded below) which can be met under advice and assistance
• the solicitor’s fees in undertaking the conveyancing work. You are not entitled to charge normal private rates for the conveyancing but must charge at advice and assistance rates. An appropriate increase for the solicitor’s element of the work would range from £350 to £500, as well as the costs of expenses and outlays, depending on the work envisaged.

You should provide specific details of these costs, having regard to the charges made by local authorities and searchers and taking into account the dues of registration which will be payable for the property involved. If you do not provide a breakdown of the likely costs in the individual situation, we may continue the request for this information.

Certain expenses are specifically excluded:

• Third-party expenses. A co-owner may be agreeable to the sale of a property if their conveyancing expenses are met. This is not a proper charge on the Fund.
• Payment of a solicitor’s or estate agent’s sale commission.
• Land and Buildings Transaction Tax.
• Advertising costs and surveyors’ fees.

If these form part of any request for an increase, we will refuse them.

*Use custom increase, no template available*

Before agreeing to the use of public funds for conveyancing, we must be persuaded there is a good reason to do so. However, it is generally reasonable to grant an increase –

• where the conveyance is for transferring the family home from one spouse to another on separation or divorce and no payment for the transfer is changing hands
• where the conveyance is for transferring the former home from one cohabitee to another following the breakdown of the relationship and no payment for the transfer is changing hands.

In each request we need information not only about the conveyancing costs which are to be incurred but also about –

• the settlement or agreement to be entered into, including the value of the house
• the payment (if any) which is to be made for the transfer of the house
• the amount of any mortgage
• whether the building society or bank is prepared to accept the applicant as solely liable for the mortgage
• whether the applicant can maintain the mortgage payments
• whether the house is to be retained for the foreseeable future.

An appropriate increase will cover

• any outlays, in full (other than those specifically excluded below) which can be met under advice and assistance
• any work to be carried out in preparing the disposition, security documents and assigning a policy or policies
• other expenses normally incurred in a conveyancing transaction including registration dues, search fees and the cost of getting local authority reports where necessary
• your fees in undertaking the conveyancing work – you are not entitled to charge normal private rates for the conveyancing but must charge at advice and assistance rates. An appropriate increase for the solicitor’s element of the work would be £350 to £500 depending on the work envisaged.

You should provide specific details of these costs, having regard to the charges made by local authorities and searchers and taking into account the dues of registration which will be payable for the property involved. If you do not provide a breakdown of the likely costs in the individual situation, we may continue the request for this information.

Certain expenses are specifically excluded:

• Land and Buildings Transaction Tax is not payable in transfers between spouses but is chargeable in transfers between cohabitees. We will refuse any request for an increase to pay stamp duty.
• If you ask for an increase to cover any third-party costs not specifically referred to in this guideline, we will seek clarification from you.

Payments being made by the applicant

In cases where the applicant is making a payment for the transfer, as well as the information shown above we need to know

• why the conveyancing costs should be met by public funds where an applicant is able to make a payment for the transfer
• whether the payment is being made by a third party who could also meet the conveyancing costs
• whether the payment is being funded by a mortgage or additional mortgage that can be extended to include conveyancing costs.

Costs of the person transferring the property

We sometimes receive applications for an increase to cover the costs of the person transferring the property. These costs are much more limited than the costs incurred by the person receiving the transfer. We need to know whether –

• a payment is being received for the transfer
• the payment is enough to cover the conveyancing costs
• the payment is earmarked for settlement of matrimonial or civil partnership debts that will exhaust it
• the transfer is necessary to implement an agreement reached and avoid costly litigation.

Generally, we will consider the applicant’s personal circumstances, the benefit to the person to whom the property is to be transferred and any children, and the benefit to the Fund of settling matrimonial or civil partnership disputes by agreement.

We will generally allow an increase of £250 to cover your work, with a sum sufficient to cover the outlays normally borne by the person transferring the property such as local authority reports and searches. As with increase applications for the conveyancing costs of the person to whom the property is to be transferred, you should provide a full breakdown of the costs to be incurred. If you do not, we may continue the request for this information.

*Use custom increase, no template available*

The initial limit of authorised expenditure will usually be enough to enable you to complete the criminal injuries application forms and submit them to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). Statements are not required to support an application to the CICA, as there is additional space to provide further information on the application form. The CICA will normally get any reports considered necessary and you will not have to be involved in this.

There may, however, be situations where either the CICA requires you to get reports and submit them for consideration or, in the best interests of the applicant, separate medical or other evidence is needed. Where you ask for an increase in authorised expenditure for this

• you should make it clear precisely what information the CICA has requested and give us detailed information on the likely costs of getting the relevant information
• you should give clear reasons why you consider it is appropriate to get separate or additional reports and why CICA refused to obtain these on your behalf.

Any increase in authorised expenditure granted in such circumstances will reflect the cost of the work to be carried out or the cost of the reports.

In an action where the sheriff appoints a curator ad litem to a child, at the first instance, unless the court directs otherwise, the pursuer is responsible for the curator’s fees and outlays. These can be incurred during the period from the curator’s appointment until

(a) they lodge a minute stating that they do not intend to lodge defences or enter the process

(b) they decide to instruct the lodging of defences or a minute adopting defences already lodged, or

(c) their appointment is discharged before either (a) or (b) occurs.

Requests for increases to cover the costs of initial investigation and submission of reports by the curator will not be granted.

For an increase for this topic we strongly recommend you use template 19.

For an increase for this topic we strongly recommend you use template 29.

Individuals raising actions of non-parentage can apply for advice and assistance and civil legal aid in the normal way – see template for applying for civil legal aid.

Similar principles apply where someone is seeking to disprove parentage, possibly because some legal presumption of parentage applies, or where the Child Maintenance Serviceis involved.

The normal rules of dealing with increases and legal aid applications apply to applications for legal aid to defend actions under the Convention.

For an increase for this topic we strongly recommend you use template 5.

*Use custom increase, no template available*

A grant of civil legal aid can generally be used for any necessary diligence arising from an action. However, advice and assistance is available to carry out certain forms of diligence. These are service of a charge for payment, poinding, sale, arrestment and inhibition. Advice and assistance is not available for an action of furthcoming following an arrestment, civil imprisonment, sequestration, or adjudication following an inhibition.

Before granting an increase, we will consider whether legal aid has been granted for civil court proceedings. Existing legal aid will cover:

• an arrestment in execution of an order for aliment or periodical allowance, if it is carried out within 12 months of the date of the court order
• registering an alimentary order in another UK court or in a foreign state
• other forms of diligence, or diligence on an order for aliment or periodical allowance after 12 months carried out with our prior approval.

If you intend to use advice and assistance, rather than civil legal aid, in any of these situations you need to give us good reasons for this.

In all other cases you should tell us:

• The amount of money owed and the prospects of recovering it.
• If the applicant is the subject of the diligence –
• whether the work proposed is more in the creditor’s interest than the applicant’s
• whether it is reasonable to use public funds, bearing in mind the background you give, for example, for repossession by a building society where the situation seems almost certain to recur or when repossession is already underway.

A decree for aliment may have to be registered under maintenance orders legislation in a court for another part of the UK or in the court of a foreign state. We may grant you a small increase so you can undertake the administrative procedure for this in Scotland. Once the decree has been registered outwith Scotland, you cannot take further action to enforce it under advice and assistance.

An applicant living abroad who seeks to enforce a maintenance order in Scotland under the Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1972 may not have to complete the financial part of the advice and assistance form if they have an exemption certificate from the responsible authority in the foreign country concerned.

*No template available, use custom increase

The initial expenditure of £95 is enough for this type of divorce or dissolution unless there are exceptional circumstances. A marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate that needs translating or difficulties in tracing the opponent are examples we have seen in the past.

If there are exceptional circumstances then an increase to £300 to £400 may be appropriate. We will refuse any request that gives no obvious reason for the increase.

Civil legal aid is not available for representation at employment tribunals (except for the Employment Appeal Tribunal). However, assistance is available through advice and assistance and/or ABWOR.

• Advice and assistance can be made available to advise an applicant on the necessary steps to be undertaken in such proceedings, and/or to assist in taking those steps. Unless ABWOR is made available, you cannot undertake any step in instituting, conducting or defending proceedings before a tribunal yourself. You can, however, negotiate on behalf of a client and advise on the work that will be needed to progress the claim before the tribunal. The stage 1 template should normally allow you to make a single increase request at the outset of a case and not return to us for further increases where only advice and assistance is needed.
• ABWOR may be made available for representation in proceedings before an employment tribunal. A further template is given for requests for increases under ABWOR.

For an increase for advice and assistance only, we strongly recommend you use template 32.

ABWOR may be made available to represent an applicant or respondent in any of the proceedings before an employment tribunal (such as proceedings about dismissal, equal opportunities, racial or sexual discrimination). It may also be made available for proceedings which are initiated in a tribunal in Scotland but then remitted to a tribunal in England, so long as the issue remains one concerning the application of Scots law.

Civil legal aid is not available for representation at employment tribunals. It is available for proceedings before the Employment Appeal Tribunal.

You must get our prior authority before giving ABWOR to your client. ABWOR is requested via online application..

If you do not seek authority to give ABWOR to your client, you cannot undertake any step in instituting, conducting or defending proceedings before a tribunal yourself – for example, framing and lodging the initiating document (IT1). You can, however, use advice and assistance to negotiate on behalf of a client and advise on the necessary steps to be undertaken in such proceedings, and/or help them take such steps.

A request for authority to make ABWOR available should satisfy us that –

The case is arguable

This test has a low threshold but you must still satisfy us there is at least a prima facie case to be taken to the tribunal. You should therefore address such issues as jurisdiction and the legal basis of the proposed claim.

It is reasonable in the particular circumstances of the case that ABWOR be made available.

You should satisfy us that it is reasonable that the applicant should receive public funds to raise or defend proceedings. Examples of the issues which could be taken into account to satisfy this criterion are –

• whether other rights and facilities may be available to the applicant (you must consider the terms of regulation 10 of the Advice and Assistance Regulations 1996)
• whether there has been an attempt made to negotiate a settlement including the services of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) or otherwise
• what stage the proceedings have reached and if advanced, how they have been funded to date
• whether the tribunal has considered that there might be poor prospects of success and has asked the applicant to pay a sum of money before pursuing the case
• the likely outcome of the case compared with the likely cost
• whether someone of moderate means who had to pay their own way would be likely to use their own money for the claim.

The case is too complex to allow the applicant to present it to a minimum standard of effectiveness in person.

The regulations set out factors we have to consider for this criterion –

(i) The determination of the case may involve procedural difficulty or consideration of a substantial question of law, or of evidence of a complex or difficult nature.

You must consider this factor with the individual applicant in mind. Is the case before the tribunal so ordinary or straightforward that they could understand it and put forward their own case? Or is it a case where legal argument must be put forward or opposed, or where the evidence of the applicant or opponent is complicated? Is there something in the circumstances of the case relating to law or evidence that makes it special or extraordinary from a lay person’s standpoint, so that in fairness to them a solicitor should be available? Examples of issues which could be taken into account are –

• the numbers and types of witness involved
• the numbers and types of documents
• what kind of representation the opponent has – such as a solicitor, personnel department or specialist
• whether the hearing takes place in Scotland or England.

(ii) The applicant may be unable to understand the proceedings or to state his own case because of his age, inadequate knowledge of English, mental illness, other mental or physical disabilities or otherwise.

Normally, we can expect that an applicant would be able to understand the proceedings and to state their own case. We will consider each case on its merits. However, a statement that the applicant is of low intelligence or is a poor communicator is unlikely to be persuasive unless they come into one of the categories listed above. An argument that the applicant should be allowed to state their case through a solicitor to put them on equal terms with the opponent is unlikely to satisfy this factor.

These factors are not exhaustive of those that we may consider in deciding whether the case is too complex to allow the applicant to present it adequately themselves. If additional factors are present, we may take them into account.

The initial limit of authorised expenditure in these cases is £95. This is not a separate limit for the work done under ABWOR but is an overall limit applying to any advice and assistance given before ABWOR work begins, as well as the work done under ABWOR.

The normal procedure for getting an increase in authorised expenditure in an advice and assistance case applies whether you make the request before or after authority is given to provide ABWOR.

The basic limit of authorised expenditure is unlikely to be enough, unless you are able to dispose of the matter at a very early stage before any hearing before the tribunal.

For an increase for ABWOR we strongly recommend you use template 33.

In most cases counsel will not be needed but may occasionally where difficult or complex areas of law or evidence are being considered. You can ask for increases –

• to get an opinion of counsel
• to cover the cost of consultations with counsel
• to instruct counsel to represent the applicant before the tribunal.

For an increase for this topic we strongly recommend you use template 34.

Most of the European and Scandinavian states have special arrangements to facilitate residents of one state applying for legal aid in another state. The arrangements for this are contained in the European Agreement on the Transmission of Applications for Legal Aid.

Under the Agreement, each state must designate an authority to be responsible for transmitting legal aid applications by any of its residents to the other state in which legal aid is sought, and for receiving applications from foreign residents. The Board is the designated authority in Scotland.

Advice and assistance given in Scotland will only be concerned with the transmission of legal aid applications to the foreign jurisdiction.

When someone resident in Scotland wishes to apply for legal aid in civil, commercial or administrative matters in territory of another state that is party to the agreement, they complete a standard application form. They send this to us, with the same supporting documentation we would expect to see with an application for proceedings in Scotland. We will tell the applicant’s solicitors of any other particular requirements of the country concerned. For instance, France requires a signed affidavit from the applicant about their financial circumstances.

A Scottish solicitor may competently provide a client with advice and assistance on the transmission of an application for legal aid under the Agreement. We will treat a request for an increase in the same way as an increase relating to an application for legal aid in Scotland. Once we receive the application it will be translated, if necessary, and we will send it to the receiving authority in the appropriate country. If that authority asks for additional information, we will ask you to provide us with it and if necessary grant a further increase in authorised expenditure for this.

Advice and assistance cannot cover any later stages of the proceedings, once legal aid has been granted. It cannot, for instance, cover correspondence between the Scottish solicitor and the lawyer appointed in the foreign jurisdiction once legal aid has been granted.

Some states will accept applications in English but some will not. If not, we will arrange for the application and the supporting papers to be translated. We will not grant increases to enable you to get your own translations.

Increases cannot be granted

• to cover any stages of proceedings in the other country after legal aid has been granted
• for translations of the application for legal aid or supporting documents.

*No template available, custom increase required*

Advice and assistance is available for winding up an estate provided the applicant, whether they are the executor or a beneficiary to the will, is financially eligible. You should bear in mind that:

• whether an applicant is applying as an executor or as a beneficiary, it is their own resources that have to be taken into account, not the resources of the estate
• while the advice and assistance regulations do not contain the same provisions on common interest or assessment of estates as the civil regulations, it is reasonable for us to ask you if other people have similar interests, to avoid duplication of requests for increases. If, however, the other people involved have opposing interests, we would not consider any increase granted for them as duplication.

ABWOR is available in relation to petitions for the appointment of an executor, including getting the extract decree dative of appointment. It is, however, only available for unopposed petitions and if we receive a further request when the proceedings become opposed, we cannot grant it.

An application for confirmation of an executor is technically a judicial step in procedure but a grant of civil legal aid is not necessary and advice and assistance can be given.

Advice and assistance may also be of assistance in winding up small estates. In due course, any such estates will be regarded as property recovered or preserved in terms of the advice and assistance regulations. Increases can be made available to carry out this work.

Advice and assistance cannot be used for representation at a Fatal Accident Inquiry. Civil legal aid is available for these proceedings.

In general, we will only grant an increase to enable you to prepare and lodge the civil application. We will not usually allow substantial increases to take statements from witnesses that the procurator fiscal or you intend to call.

For an increase for this topic we strongly recommend you use template 36.

If civil legal aid is needed to defend the action, advice and assistance is available to submit the application. Advice and assistance is not available for any steps in proceedings, to deal with which you will need to apply under the civil legal aid special urgency provisions.

For an increase for this topic we strongly recommend you use template 40.

For an increase for this topic we strongly recommend you use template 45.

Often solicitors will ask for an increase to get an opinion from counsel to support an application for judicial review. We do not always need this for the full application and, therefore, will not automatically grant an increase. If we have received an application, and specifically asked for counsel’s opinion, an increase will be granted.

In all other situations, each request will need to be considered on its own merits.

If you are asking for an increase to more than £500, you must give good reasons to show that this is justified.

Advice and assistance may be given in respect of any matter arising under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003. If it is a civil matter and you are satisfied it can only be resolved by proceedings in a civil court, and the applicant is likely to qualify for civil legal aid, the initial limit of expenditure would be £180 (please note this is selected when submitting your account).

ABWOR is available in relation to any proceedings before the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland.

No specific criteria have been laid down for granting ABWOR in these proceedings. In addition, no financial test has to be met for these cases to be eligible for advice and assistance.

Applications for advice and assistance or ABWOR may be made by, or on behalf of, a patient or by the patient’s nearest relative.

The basic limit may not be enough, unless you can dispose of the matter before any hearing in the tribunal.

For an increase for this topic we strongly recommend you use the templates 46 and 47.

If your client is to lead expert evidence, we may be prepared to grant a larger increase.

For an increase for this topic we strongly recommend you use templates 25 to 27.

Much of the negotiation may concern financial provisions or matters relating to children. Where the negotiations relate to a financial settlement, the value of the assets at issue should be taken into account. We will not reject requests for increases simply because a certain level of expenditure has been incurred and it appears the matter should be proceeding to a civil legal aid application. It is preferable if settlements can be negotiated using advice and assistance.
If you give us information to show that the other side is not willing or interested in negotiation, it might not be appropriate to grant a further increase.

For an increase for this topic we strongly recommend you use template 48.

This template reflects the work involved in most straightforward applications. You might need to apply to us for a further increase for a more complicated case – for example, for:

• translation costs for documents such as birth and marriage certificates
• if the application is refused, meeting your client to assess the merits of pursuing administrative review, and preparing a review application.

If you are applying for, or already have, a templated increase under “Family/Divorce”, you should use the “additional work” under that template to apply for an increase relating to pensions.

In advising the applicant about pension sharing, you need to take several matters into account including whether it would be better to offset the value of the pension against other matrimonial or civil partnership property.

• The first stage of such advice involves gathering information about the assets individuals may have. We may grant increases up to £350 for this.
• The second stage involves giving advice to the applicant to decide whether the pension should be split, an earmarking order sought or the value of the pension offset against other matrimonial or civil partnership property. An increase of £250 may be made available.
• The third stage is where an individual wants to proceed with a pension sharing agreement and needs advice on this – in particular, whether the shares should be left in the existing pension scheme or put into a different pension scheme. This needs specialist pension advice.

You may seek increases in authorised expenditure to get advice from actuaries or other professionals before advising the applicant about their options. Where it is shown that

• pension sharing is a viable option and
• the matrimonial or civil partnership assets are of sufficient value to warrant getting reports from an expert and
• especially, if the issues on which advice is to be given are outwith a family law practitioner's experience or knowledge

we can grant an increase of £500 for this. Where the value of a pension is low, possibly around £5,000 or less, it is unlikely to be reasonable to allow an increase in authorised expenditure for such expert reports.

If you are applying for, or already have, a templated increase under “Family/Divorce”, you should use the “additional work” under that template to apply for an increase relating to pensions.

To pay for the administration costs of getting a cash equivalent transfer value (CETV) you can apply for an increase in authorised expenditure.

There are only limited situations where a full actuarial valuation may be needed to ascertain the value of any pension, where:

• a CETV cannot be obtained where the pension is already being paid or where the employee is less than one year from the normal retirement age
• certain small pension schemes, which may be underfunded, may need full actuarial valuations, and some small self-administered pension schemes may not be able to produce a CETV.

If it is appropriate to grant an increase to cover the cost of a full actuarial valuation, an increase to £600 can be made.

An increase in authorised expenditure can be applied for to cover the costs of preparing and drafting a power of attorney. We do not cover the cost of the registration of this document. An increase can be sought to cover a GP report to support the application should this be necessary. Consideration can be given to other expert reports. An increase can be sought to cover a home/hospital visit should the applicant be unable to travel.

We would recommend that you use template 59.

Many reparation cases will fall into the categories for which there are templates. If so, you should be able to make a single increase request at the outset of a case and not return to us for further increases.

Non “templated” increases

In all reparation cases, when asking for an increase you should tell us

• what happened
• why you think it should not have happened
• whether the applicant’s present predicament is a direct result of what happened
• what the loss is
• whether you have explored the question of liability
• whether a claim has been intimated.

We also need to know if the claim will be above or below £3000. If it is less, that will have an effect on the increases we grant. Legal aid is not available to pursue or defend simple procedure actions for less than £3000 apart from personal injury.

The normal guidelines for increases apply to all personal injury cases, including medical negligence, regardless of whether they are below the simple procedure limit. Where the value of the claim is modest we may grant only limited additional expenditure or we may not grant an increase at all.

If the claim is above the simple procedure level, you should satisfy us that you have addressed issues of liability and causation before carrying out substantial work on quantum. Where liability is admitted or the opponent wishes to negotiate, we can look at requests to get other necessary reports such as medical or specialist reports and consider increases to enable negotiations to take place. We need your assurance that these negotiations are meaningful.

In actions about injuries at work, a civil application should contain

• a statement by the client
• corroborative, or at least supporting, statements
• any sketch or photographs of the locus
• any diagrams or other representation of any industrial process or equipment involved in the accident
• copies of any available reports pertinent to the accident as well as medical reports. Such reports are useful in providing background information and in highlighting breaches in duty.

You can apply for an increase in authorised expenditure to £550 to apply for civil legal aid. You can request a further increase for any necessary reports.

We need the same basic information in support of a request as in reparation and you should address liability first.

Requests for increases in cases of professional negligence other than medical negligence (for example, solicitors, surveyors, architects) follow much the same pattern, although medical records will not normally be involved. (There will be a few, however, where medical evidence is needed, if a claim is made relating to mental or physical injuries sustained because of the negligence.) A report from an appropriate specialist will always be needed in support of an application for legal aid. However, if the claim is less than £3,000 it will be a simple procedure case, and this may have an impact on the reasonableness of granting an increase for an expensive report.

The Act excludes certain simple procedure processes at first instance from civil legal aid.  However, advice and assistance can be used to provide advice on preparing a simple procedure case although, as in any other type of action, it cannot cover representation.

Under the rules on property recovered or preserved, you would be expected to take your fee from any property recovered or preserved unless you make a successful application under regulation 16(3) to waive that rule.

In general, it would be unreasonable to give any increase where the value of the matter in dispute is under £180, or to authorise expenditure amounting to more than one-third of the value of the claim. There may, however, be special circumstances and each case has to be considered on its own merits. The value of the claim must be stated.

If the applicant is a defender in a simple procedure action, you must tell us whether the debt is denied or admitted.

The Courts Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 excludes actions for personal injury from the category of actions that must be brought as simple procedure cases, and we can, therefore, grant civil legal aid for these. The normal guidelines for increases therefore apply to all personal injury cases, regardless of whether they are below the simple procedure limit.

You need our prior authority for proceedings before the VAT and Duties Tribunals for Scotland which consist of an appeal against a penalty imposed under section 60 of the Value Added Tax Act 1994 or section 8 of the Finance Act 1994. We must be satisfied that it is

• in the interests of justice and
• reasonable

to make ABWOR available.

The factors we have to consider in deciding whether it is in the interests of justice to allow ABWOR to be given include:

(a) The determination of the issue may involve procedural difficulty or consideration of a substantial question of law, or of evidence of a complex or difficult nature

You must consider this factor with the individual applicant in mind. Is the case before the tribunal so ordinary or straightforward that they could understand it and put forward their own case? Or is it a case where legal argument must be put forward or opposed, or where the evidence of the applicant or opponent is complicated? Is there something in the circumstances of the case relating to law or evidence that makes it special or extraordinary from a lay person’s standpoint, so that in fairness to them a solicitor should be available? Examples of issues which could be taken into account are –

• the numbers and types of witness involved
• the numbers and types of documents
• what kind of representation the opponent has – such as a solicitor, personnel department or specialist
• whether the hearing takes place in Scotland or England.

(b) The applicant may be unable to understand the proceedings or to state their own case because of age, inadequate knowledge of English, mental illness, other mental or physical disability or otherwise.

Normally, we can expect that an applicant would be able to understand the proceedings and to state their own case. We will consider each case on its merits. However, a statement that the applicant is of low intelligence or is a poor communicator is unlikely to be persuasive unless they come into one of the categories listed above.  An argument that the applicant should be allowed to state their case through a solicitor to put them on equal terms with the opponent is unlikely to satisfy this factor.

These factors are not exhaustive of those that we may consider in deciding whether the case is too complex to allow the applicant to present it adequately themselves. If additional factors are present, we may take them into account.

In any request for authority, you should address these issues in appropriate detail.

Increases are sometimes sought to enable a solicitor to attend a trial or fatal accident inquiry for the purpose of a watching brief on behalf of a client.

We will only authorise increases in rare and exceptional circumstances. Where these exist, you should tell us

• the extent of the attendance
• what experience the person attending will need (for example, whether they are a trainee or assistant)
• the reasons the watching brief is necessary.

The £95 limit should usually be enough to cover drafting a will.

Before agreeing to grant any increase we must be persuaded there is a good reason to use public funds for this, as drafting a will is normally a voluntary act. If you satisfy us that the use of public funds for this is reasonable, we will consider granting an increase if some specific complexity is involved in drafting the will because of its provisions, or where you have to travel to the testator’s home or hospital.

If you have selected template 59 for a power of attorney, you can select an additional work item to cover this work.

Information about template 1

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit

• you have met the client
• you have taken instructions and details of the case.
  

Work covered by the template

We will grant an increase to £500 to cover

• correspondence on behalf of, and meetings with, the applicant
• doing all the work necessary to apply for legal aid.

Information about template 2

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the existing limit

• you have met the client
• you have taken instructions about a claim for asylum
• you have advised them on making the claim

Work covered by template

We will grant an increase in authorised expenditure to £950 to cover:

• lengthy meeting with client to take detailed information and statement
• frame statement of evidence form, or help client to complete statement of evidence form
• correspond with Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND)
• frame statement of additional grounds
• correspond with client about progress
• examine decision of IND
• meet with client to discuss decision, advise on outcome and advise on prospect of appeal if necessary
• pay interpreter.

Additional work covered by template

Information about template 3

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the existing limit

• you have taken instructions and framed grounds of appeal.

Work covered by template

We will grant an increase to £1,800 if you need to do the following further work:

• meeting your client to finalise and amend witness statement
• attending case management hearing
• framing witness statement
• framing inventory of productions
• framing skeleton arguments, if necessary
• copying productions
• lodging documents
• obtaining evidential materials
• examining evidential materials
• corresponding with client, court and IND
• preparation for hearing
• citing witnesses
• attending and presenting the appeal hearing
• examining the Immigration Judge’s determination
• meeting client, advising on outcome and prospects of appeal
• paying interpreter.

Information about template 4

Regulation 45 of the Civil Regulations 2002 puts in place streamlined procedures to deal with applications for legal aid made by a person resident outside the UK. The streamlined procedure applies only to cases where

• the person is resident outwith the UK,
• they wish to pursue an action at first instance before the Court of Session, and
• Scottish Ministers certify the application as a convention application.
• It does not apply to an application for legal aid to defend such an action.

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the existing limit you have

• obtained instructions on the application

Work covered by template

We will allow an increase to £500 to enable you to do all the work necessary to apply for legal aid under the streamlined procedure.

Information about template 5

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the existing limit you have

• met your client
• taken instructions and details of the case

Work covered by template

We will allow an increase to £500 to enable you to do all the work necessary to apply for legal aid

Information about template 6

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the existing limit you have

• taken instructions on the application or appeal and details of the case

We will allow an increase to £500 to cover applying for legal aid for an appeal. For such an application for legal aid we need –

• an application form signed by the applicant or the solicitor.
• a statement from the solicitor and a copy for each opponent.
• a copy of the Ministers’ certificate, if there was no application for legal aid at first instance.

Information about template 8

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit you have

• met the client
• taken instructions and details of the case.

Work covered by template

We will allow an increase to £500 to enable you to do all the work necessary to apply for legal aid.

Information about template 9

You may make a fresh grant of advice and assistance to cover any work to be carried out on an appeal against a decision of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit you have

• met the client
• taken instructions about the review.

Work covered by template

We will grant an increase to £300 to do the following work:

• considering the terms of the refusal of award
• advising your client about preparing the review application
• advising your client about preparing an appeal to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel, if necessary
• considering what further evidence is needed and advising your client about this
• helping your client get any medical evidence needed.

Additional work covered by template

Information about template 10

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit you have

• met the client
• taken instructions and details of the case.

Work covered by template

We will consider if any proposed step in relation to bringing land back into crofting is reasonable. We will grant an increase to £720 for

• valuations and
• expert survey advice.

Information about template 11

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit you have

• met the client
• taken instructions and details of the case.

Work covered by template

In an access rights and servitude dispute, we will grant an increase to £400 for

• examination of titles, where they exist, and
• getting statements or other evidence to support the claim

Information about template 12

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit you have

• met the client
• taken instructions and details of the case.

Work covered by template

We will grant an initial increase to £400 to

• help with rights to purchase crofts and
• deal with applications to the Land Court if necessary.

Information about template 13

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit you have

• met the client
• taken instructions and details of the case.

Work covered by template

We will grant an initial increase to £350 for investigations into disputes about whether the person on a holding is a cottar or not.

Information about template 14

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit you have

• met the client
• taken instructions and details of the case.

Work covered by template

We will grant an increase to £400 for

• investigating whether land is crofting land, where the Crofters Commission has insufficient or no information
• getting evidence from other sources such as neighbours or other people who can speak to the land use over the years.

Information about template 15

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit you have

• met the client
• taken instructions and details of the case.

Work covered by template

We will grant an increase to £350 for you to

• give general advice on decrofting applications
• give advice on any possible appeal to the Land Court if the Crofters Commission refuses the application.

Information about template 16

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit you have

• met the client
• taken instructions and details of the case.

Work covered by template

We will grant an increase to £500 for

• discussion and negotiation
• if the issue has to go before the Land Court to be resolved, advice on the appeal and, if necessary, doing all the work necessary to apply for legal aid.

Information about template 17

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit you have

• met the client
• taken instructions and details of the case.

Work covered by template

We will grant an increase to £450 for

• getting supporting statements and other documentary evidence
• negotiating with other family members to resolve problems.

Information about template 18

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit you have

• met the client
• taken instructions and details of the case.

Work covered by template

We will grant an increase to £350 for getting the view of an expert in agriculture on whether the standard of care and maintenance was adequate.

Information about template 19

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit

• you have met the client
• you have taken instructions and details of the case
• the curator has chosen to enter the process.

Work covered by template

If the curator chooses to enter the process, we will grant an increase to £500 for you to do all the work necessary to apply for legal aid.

Information about template 20

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit

• you have met the client
• you have taken instructions regarding separation
• it appears that the matrimonial or civil partnership assets are reasonably believed to exceed £50,000, and
• issues about contact with, or residence of, children of the relationship have to be resolved

Work covered by template

We will grant an increase in authorised expenditure to £2,100 to cover the following further work:

• investigating matrimonial or civil partnership assets
• considering the issues about contact with, or residence of, the children of the relationship
• negotiating with opponent
• drafting, finalising and registering a minute of agreement.

Additional work covered by template

Information about template 21

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit

• you have met the client
• you have taken instructions regarding separation
• it appears that the matrimonial or civil partnership assets are reasonably believed to exceed £50,000.

Work covered under template

• We will grant an increase in authorised expenditure to £1,800 to cover the following further work:
• investigating matrimonial or civil partnership assets
• negotiating with opponent
• drafting, finalising and registering minute of agreement.

Addiitonal work covered by template

Information about template 22

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit

• you have met the client
• you have taken instructions regarding separation
• it appears that the matrimonial or civil partnership assets are £50,000 or less, and
• issues about contact with, or residence of, children of the marriage have to be resolved

Work covered by template

• We will grant an increase in authorised expenditure to £1,200 to cover:
• investigating matrimonial assets
• considering the issues about contact with, or residence of, the children of the relationship
• negotiating with opponent
• drafting, finalising and registering a minute of agreement.

Addiitonal work covered by template

Information about template 23

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit

• you have met the client
• you have taken instructions about separation and
• it appears that the matrimonial or civil partnership assets are £50,000 or less.

Work covered by template

• We will grant an increase in authorised expenditure to £800 to cover:
• investigating matrimonial assets
• negotiating with opponent
• drafting, finalising and registering a minute of agreement.

Additional work covered by template

Information about template 24

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit

• you have met the client
• you have taken instructions about residence, contact, or any other aspect of parental rights or responsibilities
• this was not done as part of a grant of advice and assistance for divorce/dissolution).

Work covered by template

• We will grant an increase in authorised expenditure to £600 to cover:
• negotiations and correspondence including attending meetings with the parties and their solicitors.
• preparing a section 4 agreement
• preparing a minute of agreement.

Additional work covered by template

Information about template 25

Stage 1 – negotiations

In applying for an increase under the stage 1 template, you confirm that under the initial limit

• you have met the client
• you have taken instructions and details of the case

Work covered by the template

• We will grant an initial increase to £500 to begin negotiations. We may grant an increase to more than £500 for further negotiations if it appears the negotiations may be helping to resolve matters and may avoid the need for lengthy court proceedings. If you wish to apply for this larger increase, you should include this in questions 3 and 4 of the form, relating to additional work.

Information about template 26

Stage 2 – drafting, adjusting and registering minute of agreement

In applying for an increase under the stage 2 template, you confirm that under the existing limit

• you have carried out the negotiations in stage 1
• you have reached terms of agreement.

Work covered by stage 2 template

• We will grant a further increase of £500, once terms of agreement are reached, to draft and adjust the minute of agreement and have it signed and registered.

Information about template 27

Stage 3 – implementation and enforcement

In applying for an increase under the stage 3 template, you confirm that under the existing limit

• you have registered the minute of agreement.

Work covered by stage 3 template

• Once the minute of agreement has been registered, we will grant a further increase of £500 to implement it – for example, transferring assets such as insurance policies, payment of capita

Information about template 28

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit

• you have met the client
• you have taken instructions and details of the case.

Work covered by the template

• We will grant an increase to £500 to enable you to
• get supporting statements from the step-parent and the natural parent addressing the welfare arrangements for the child
• do all the work necessary to apply for legal aid.

Information about template 29

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit

• you have met the client
• you have taken instructions and details of the case.

Work covered by the template

• We will grant an increase to £500 to enable you to
• get a statement from the applicant providing full details of opportunity for the alleged father to have fathered the child etc, and
• get a corroborating statement, and
• where appropriate, get any birth certificate
• do all the work necessary to apply for legal aid.

Additional work covered by template

Information about template 30

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit

• you have met the client
• you have taken instructions and details of the case.

Work covered by the template

• We will grant an increase to £500 to enable you to apply for legal aid to –
• defend an application for a parental responsibilities order, or
• bring or defend an application for variation or discharge of a parental responsibilities order, or
• appeal, or oppose an appeal, in relation to the making, or the refusal to make, a parental responsibilities order or an order varying or discharging a parental responsibilities order.

Information about template 31

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit

• you have met the client
• you have taken instructions and details of the case
• noted general details and there appears to be a need to make a claim for aliment.

Work covered by the template

• We will grant an increase in authorised expenditure to £550 to cover the following work:
• getting evidence of your client’s financial details, income and outgoings
• intimating the claim for aliment to the opponent, negotiating and holding further meetings with the client, telephone calls and correspondence, and all copying charges
• preparing a schedule of income and outgoings
• if agreement is reached, finalising and registering a minute of agreement.

Additional work covered by the template

Information about template 32

Advice and assistance only – stage 1 template

In applying for an increase under the stage 1 template, you confirm that under the initial limit

• you have met the client
• you have taken instructions and details of the case

Work covered by the stage 1 template

• We will grant an increase to £300 for advice and assistance given before applying for ABWOR, to:
• meet the client and advise them of steps they may take to submit a claim
• read form ET3
• discuss with and advise client on steps they may take in relation to ET3
• request further and more detailed information (if needed)
• correspond with ACAS to ascertain scope for settlement (if needed)
• write to the tribunal for formal orders
• submit the application for ABWOR.

Information about template 33

Stage 2 – ABWOR template

In applying for an increase under the stage 2 template, you confirm that under the existing limit

• you have taken instructions
• we have approved ABWOR.

Work covered by the stage 2 template

• We will grant an increase to £1,800 if you need to:
• meet client to prepare, complete and lodge form ET1 or consider form ET3
• correspond with ACAS to ascertain scope for settlement (if necessary)
• prepare for and attend case management discussion
• take and frame witnesses’ statements
• request documents
• prepare and lodge note of documents, including photocopying up to six sets of documents
• prepare for and attend pre-hearing review
• meet client and advise on outcome of pre-hearing review and prospects of application for review (if necessary)
• correspond with client and tribunal (if necessary)
• prepare for hearing
• attend and present the hearing
• cite witnesses and meet witness expenses
• read the tribunal’s determination
• meet client, advise on outcome and prospects of application for review or appeal to Employment Appeal Tribunal
• prepare for review hearing (if necessary)
• attend and present review hearing (if necessary)
• meet client and advise on outcome of review hearing (if necessary)

Information about template 34

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit

• you have met the client
• you have taken instructions and details of the case

Work covered by the template

• We will grant an increase to £500 to enable you to
• prepare supporting documents
• complete a standard application form to apply for legal aid in civil, commercial or administrative matters in territory of another state that is party to the agreement
• to get additional information required by the other country before it decides on the application.

Information about template 35

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit

• you have met the client
• you have taken instructions and details of the case

Work covered by the template

• We will grant an increase to £500 to enable you to get –
• a statement from the applicant showing the terms of the order obtained, when it was served on the opponent, how and when it was breached
• a supporting statement, if available
• a copy of the court interlocutor
• and to do all the work necessary to apply for legal aid.

Information about template 36

• Advice and assistance cannot be used for representation at a Fatal Accident Inquiry. Civil legal aid is available for these proceedings.

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit

• you have met the client
• you have taken instructions and details of the case

Work covered by the template

• We will grant an increase to £500 to do all the work necessary to apply for legal aid.

Information about template 37

• In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit
• you have met the client
• you have taken instructions and details of the case

Work covered by the template

• We will grant an increase to £500 to enable you to do all the work necessary to apply for legal aid.

Information about template 38

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit

• you have met the client
• you have taken instructions and details of the case

Work covered by the template

• We will grant an increase to £250 for the following work:
• finding out why housing benefit is not being paid, or not being fully paid, or needs backdating.
• writing to the landlord and housing benefit office to resolve the matter and helping the client apply for a backdate, if appropriate.
• advising the client about their right to appeal against the decision of the local Housing Benefit Office to the Independent Appeals Service, if necessary
• advising the client on preparing for a hearing before the Independent Appeal Service.

Information about template 39

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the existing limit

• you have taken instructions on the appeal.

Work covered by the template

• We will grant an increase of £500 to do the following work:
• getting any supporting documentary evidence needed
• examining housing benefit submissions
• do all the work necessary to apply for legal aid.

Information about template 40

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit

• you have met the client
• you have taken instructions and details of the case.

Work covered by the template

• We will grant an increase to £550 to do the following work:
• negotiating with the landlord about rent arrears, or anti-social issues or other grounds for possible action
• taking statements from witnesses
• getting any reports that are needed
• do all the work necessary to apply for legal aid.

Information about template 41

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit

• you have met the client
• you have taken instructions and details of the case
• and that the value of the claim is more than the small claims limit.

Work covered by the template

• We will grant an increase to £500 to cover:
• intimating a claim against the landlord
• negotiations
• do all the work necessary to apply for legal aid.

Additional work covered by the template

Information about template 42

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit

• you have met the client
• you have taken instructions and details of the case

Work covered by the template

• We will grant an increase to £550 where you need to do the following further work:
• writing to the opponent telling them what conduct your client is complaining about, and that proceedings will be raised if the conduct does not stop
• instructing, getting and reading a GP’s report
• getting statements from witnesses (allow two statements)
• corresponding and meeting client as necessary
• do all the work necessary to apply for legal aid

Information about template 43

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit

• you have met the client
• you have taken instructions and details of the case

Work covered by the template

• We will grant an increase to £500 where you need to do the following further work:
• writing to the opponent telling them what conduct or nuisance your client is complaining about, and that proceedings will be raised if, for example, the conduct does not stop or the damage is not made good
• getting statements from witnesses (allow two statements)
• corresponding with and meeting client as necessary
• do all the work necessary to apply for legal aid.

Additional work covered by template

Information about template 44

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit >

• you have met the client
• you have taken instructions and details of the case

Work covered by the template

• We will grant an increase to £500 to enable you to get –
• a statement from the applicant showing the terms of the order obtained, when it was served on the opponent, how and when it was breached
• a supporting statement, if available
• a copy of the court interlocutor
• and to do all the work necessary to apply for legal aid.

Information about template 45

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit

• you have met the client
• you have taken instructions and details of the case

Work covered by the template

• We will grant an increase to £500 to allow you to do all the work necessary to apply for legal aid to petition for judicial review

Information about template 46

First increase

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit

• you have granted ABWOR to oppose an application for an order in terms of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, and
• you have taken initial instructions from your client, and
• you are applying to continue the application for an order to allow for preparation of an independent psychiatric report

Work covered by the template

• We will grant an increase to £1,500 to get
• an independent psychiatric report and
• background information about the case from the applicant, staff nurse, key worker and mental health officer and
• to cover the preliminary hearing, at which the tribunal may consider an interim order.
• You will need to tell us:
• whether the applicant is a patient or an informal patient, at which hospital, and the ward number or name
• where and when the application for an order will first call before the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland
• the likely cost of the psychiatric report.

Information about template 47

Second increase

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit

• you have carried out the work shown in template 46 (first increase), and
• the application has been continued to a full hearing of the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland.

Work covered by template

• We will grant an increase of £500 to cover
• meeting your client to discuss with them at greater length the application for an order
• getting the client’s up-to-date instructions
• discussing the case with any relevant witnesses before the next calling of the application
• attendance at hearing by experts
• representation at the hearing.

Information about template 48

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit you have carried out the following work:

• an initial meeting with your client to
  • assess eligibility, and advise them on legal requirements and application form for British naturalisation
  • advise them on the Home Office definition of lawful residence and explore with them getting evidence of residence
• if your client has no valid passports, writing to relevant organisations to ask for alternative written evidence of residence (such as letters from Department for Work and Pensions, employers, schools, universities)
• exploring with your client the evidence needed to meet other requirements – for example, evidence that they have indefinite leave to remain (ILR), have passed the Life in the UK test, and evidence of relationships (spouse and children)
• advising your client about requirements for referees and who can act as referees; character requirements; and rules about absences abroad, and assessing whether they meet these requirements.

Work covered by template

• We will grant an increase to £220 for the following work
• for a further appointment, once your client has passed the Life in the UK test and had the referee sections completed on the form, to examine the supporting documents provided and to finalise the application before submitting it to the Home Office
• sending the application to the Home Office, keeping your client updated on its progress, and telling them when the Home Office acknowledges it.
• if the Home Office asks for additional information or documents, writing to the client asking for this and sending it to the Home Office
• if the Home Office has not contacted you within 3 months, writing reminder letters
• if your client needs their passport back while the application is still being considered, writing to the Home Office asking for it
• telling your client the outcome of their application once a decision is received, and explaining about citizenship ceremonies and applications for British passports.

Information about template 49

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit

• you have met the client
• you have taken instructions and details of the case

Work covered by template

• We will grant an increase to £500 to enable you to get –
• a statement from the applicant providing details of the alleged harassment
• a supporting statement if available
• details of any damages sought and justification for the damages, if appropriate and to do all the work necessary to apply for legal aid

Additional work covered by template

Information about template 50

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit

• you have met the client
• you have taken instructions and details of the case
• you have established that the debt is more than £3,000.
• and that the value of the claim is more than the small claims limit

Work covered by template

• We will grant an increase to £500 to enable you to get
• statements
• evidence of debts or sums paid
• if defending an action, evidence that the debtor has not paid
• and to do all the work necessary to apply for legal aid.

Information about template 51

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit

• you have met the client
• you have taken instructions and details of the case

Work covered by template

• We will grant an increase to £550 to cover the following work:
• negotiating with the heritable creditor to arrange repayment of mortgage arrears
• taking statements from witnesses
• getting any reports that are needed
• doing all the work necessary to apply for legal aid.

Information about template 52

Personal injuries – claim for damages between £3,000 and £10,000

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit

• you have met the client
• you have taken instructions and details of the case

Work covered by template

• We will grant an increase to £750 if you need to do the following further work:
• intimating a claim
• obtaining medical records
• instructing, obtaining and reading a medical report
• entering negotiations with opponents
• corresponding and meeting with client as necessary
• obtaining statements from witnesses (allow two statements)
• assisting applicant in applying for civil legal aid if negotiations prove unsuccessful

Information about template 53

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit

• you have met the client
• you have taken instructions and details of the case

Work covered by template

• We will grant an increase to £1,200 if you need to do the following further work:
• intimating a claim
• obtaining medical records
• instructing, obtaining and reading a medical report
• entering negotiations with opponents
• corresponding and meeting with client as necessary
• obtaining statements from witnesses (allow two statements)
• assisting applicant in applying for civil legal aid if negotiations prove unsuccessful

Information about template 54

First report

• In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit
• you have met the client
• you have taken instructions and details of the case and
• you have satisfied yourself that the claim is valued at in excess of £3,000

Work covered by template

• We will grant an increase to £2,500 if you need to do the following further work for a first report:
• meeting with applicant to advise about possible remedies
• corresponding with client to advise, recovering copy medical records
• examining and considering copy medical records (including, where appropriate, preparing detailed chronology and notes), plus pagination of records (where appropriate and at unqualified rate) with a view to instructing appropriate expert(s)
• further meeting with client to review records and frame detailed statement and to take statement from corroboratory witness if appropriate
• getting any necessary information, documentation or clarification with a view to instructing expert
• further correspondence including correspondence with client to advise, correspondence with authorities expert and holders of medical records and detailed letter of instruction to expert on either Hunter v Hanley liability report or causation report
• meeting with client to review report through to decision whether to
  • discontinue claim and close file,
  • intimate claim or
  • seek further increase in authorised expenditure for causation report (if not previously obtained) or liability report (if not previously obtained)

Information about template 55

Second report

In applying for an increase under the second report template, you confirm that under the initial limit

• you have obtained a supportive report from an appropriate expert on either liability or causation, but
• need to instruct a separate report on the other.

Work covered by template

• We will grant an increase to £1,000 to do the following work:
• framing supplementary statement of applicant to deal with the issue of causation (if statement previously obtained relates primarily to issues raised in previous report)
• recovering updated copies of hospital and GP records to show any treatment since the previous copy records
• examining additional records
• instructing expert to prepare report on liability or causation
• examining report
• further meeting with client to review report through to decision whether to
  • discontinue claim and close file, or
  • seek further increase in authorised expenditure to intimate claim and/or submit legal aid application

Information about template 56

Third stage

In applying for an increase under the third stage template, you confirm that under the initial limit

• you have obtained the necessary supportive evidence to establish liability and causation, and
• you are now ready to intimate a claim and if appropriate apply for legal aid.

Work covered by template

• We will grant an increase to £350 for the following work:
• intimating claim
• corresponding and negotiating with opponent’s agents to establish whether liability is repudiated
• corresponding with client
• investigating and corresponding about quantification of claim
• applying for legal aid if necessary

Information about template 57

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit

• you have met the client
• you have taken instructions and details of the case

Work covered by template

• In cases where the applicant is defending the case, we will grant an increase to £500 to cover
• getting statements>
• applying for civil legal aid.

Information about template 58

Department for Work and Pensions decision

• This template also covers a decision by a council for housing or council tax benefit

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial limit

• you have met the client
• you have taken instructions and details of the case

Work covered by the template

• We will grant an increase to £400 to cover the following work:
• writing a letter to the Department for Work and Pensions asking for a review
• meeting the client to discuss the outcome of a review
• advising the client about drafting a letter of appeal to the Appeal Service, and
• submitting the appeal form, if necessary
• considering the Department for Work and Pensions submission and advising the client about it
• helping the client prepare for Appeal Service hearing
• meeting the client to discuss the outcome of the tribunal.

Additional work covered by template

Information about template 59

In applying for an increase under the template, you confirm that under the initial  limit

• you have met the client
• you have taken instructions and details of the case.

Work covered by template

We will grant an increase to £250 to cover the following work

• preparing and drafting a power of attorney
• meeting the client to progress this as necessary
• registering the power of attorney with the Office of the Public Guardian

Additional work covered by template