Join our webinars on Summary Criminal Legal Assistance reforms

11 November 2026

Sections:

We are holding webinars to help you prepare for the reforms to Summary Criminal Legal Assistance taking effect on 14 December 2026.

Join us to hear about the new provisions and see demonstrations of the new application and accounts systems.

Dates and joining details

The webinars will take place on the following dates. The same webinar will be delivered on each of the dates below. You only need to attend one session – please choose the date and time that suits you best.

Date Full session Applications Accounts
Tuesday 17 November 4–5pm 4–4:30pm 4:30–5pm
Thursday 19 November 1–2pm 1–1:30pm 1:30–2pm
Tuesday 24 November 4–5pm 4–4:30pm 4:30–5pm
Thursday 26 November 1–2pm 1–1:30pm 1:30–2pm
Tuesday 1 December 4–5pm 4–4:30pm 4:30–5pm
Thursday 3 December 1–2pm 1–1:30pm 1:30–2pm

You can join a session using the Microsoft Teams link here: Online webinar | Microsoft Teams.

What the webinar covers

Each webinar will last one hour, split into two sections of approximately 30 minutes:

  • Applications: an overview of the key changes to application processes and a demonstration of the new application system.
  • Accounts: an overview of the key changes to accounts and a demonstration of the new accounts system.

Before attending – read the updates and watch the videos

Please read the updates and watch the accompanying videos we issued on 30 July and 1 October:

Summary of the reforms

From 14 December 2026:

  • Summary ABWOR for summary procedure cases will be abolished
  • Summary Criminal Legal Aid will apply to all summary procedure cases, regardless of plea
  • Applications for summary criminal legal aid can be made once the complaint has been served with no need to wait until after the pleading diet, allowing legal aid to be in place much earlier in the case
  • All cases will be assessed under the summary criminal Undue Hardship financial test, removing the anomaly of clients who currently don’t qualify for ABWOR, but who would qualify for summary legal aid
  • New Automatic legal aid and Special Urgency arrangements will provide cover in custody and undertaking, or urgent cited cases
  • The applications procedures and payment arrangements for Duty solicitors are now aligned with the solicitor of choice.

Legislative background

The Criminal Legal Aid and Assistance by Way of Representation, (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2026 come into force on 14 December 2026.

They amend eight sets of legal aid regulations, primarily the Criminal Legal Aid (Scotland) Regulations 1996. The amendments also cover the duty solicitor regulations, three advice and assistance and ABWOR regulations, and three sets of fees regulations.

More information

For further information or any queries, you can contact: