Participation Individual’s at children’s hearings and pre hearing panels – ABWOR to be available

This update is to advise you that, as a result of the Legal Aid and Advice and Assistance (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2023 coming into force on 23 January 2023,  ABWOR will soon be available to:

• Participation Individuals (siblings or anyone that can establish such a relationship) who have been invited to attend part of a full hearing by the Reporter and
• those persons seeking such status (so not invited by the Reporter) at a pre hearing panel or at the beginning of a full children’s hearing.

How to apply for ABWOR

We will be upgrading our systems soon to include the new categories of applicant. We will notify you when these system changes take effect and update our guidance.

In the meantime the interim details of how to apply for ABWOR to represent either of the applicant types below are available in our legal aid guidance sections:

• ABWOR for Participation Individuals (‘PI’) invited by the Reporter to attend a children’s hearing
• ABWOR for Persons seeking Participation Individual status (NDPI’s)

More information

If you have any queries please contact:

Elizabeth Cuschieri
Senior solicitor – Children’s legal assistance
cuschierili@slab.org.uk