TOOL: prior approval required if not acting as an expert?

Please select an option from the drop-down below to view when you will need our prior approval to employ or consult with a professional not acting as an expert, and scenarios when you will not need our prior approval.

Type of profession

Scenarios in which prior approval not required	Prior approval required
Curators ad litem are not considered to be acting as experts for the purposes of legal aid prior approval.	Prior approval may be required if work of an unusual nature or unusually large expenditure expected. If the curator is providing a child welfare report they will need prior approval if the cost of the report is to exceed £3,000.

*Scenarios in which prior approval not required*	*Prior approval required*	*Any specific evidence required/tips*
Blood/hair strand test for drug/alcohol testing of the applicant where the report is factual in nature	Blood/hair strand for drug/alcohol testing of any other party (unusual work) Expert opinion beyond interpretation of the factual results (expert) Costs to exceed £3,000 (unusually large expenditure).	Copy court interlocutor, where applicable/ Evidence of medical qualifications/ Invoicing requirements.

Scenarios in which prior approval not required	Prior approval required	Any specific evidence required/tips
GPs and hospital doctors setting out the facts about one of their patients (witness as to fact).	GPs and hospital doctors giving a report in their capacity as an expert - ie addressing legal tests.	Evidence of medical qualifications. Invoicing requirements.

Scenarios in which prior approval not required	Prior approval required
Inquiry agents being used to find the whereabouts of an opponent or witness.	If costs are likely to exceed £3,000 see prior approval for unusually large expenditure or for unusual work.

Scenarios in which prior approval not required	Prior approval required	Any specific evidence required/tips
Interpreters, while professionals, are not treated as expert witnesses for the purpose of prior approval. Generally, once legal aid in place, costs can be justified at Accounts stage.	If costs likely to exceed £3,000 please see the guidance on unusually large expenditure.	See guidance on translation and interpretation.

Scenarios in which prior approval not required	Prior approval required
Sheriff Officers doing standard work (including serving a writ after postal service has failed).	Sheriff Officers doing standard work such as serving a writ, but costs likely to exceed £3,000 – prior approval required under unusually large expenditure

Scenarios in which sanction not required	Sanction required	Any specific evidence required/tips
Sign-language Interpreters, whilst professionals, are not treated as expert witnesses for the purpose of sanction. Generally, once legal aid in place, costs can be justified at Accounts stage.	If costs are likely to exceed £3,000, see sanction req. for unusually large expenditure – not for expert	If costs will exceed £3,000 please see the guidance on unusually large expenditure.

TOOL: funding for child welfare report

TOOL: find a template prior approval