Tips on using Criminal ABWOR in Summary Case Management cases

29 January 2026

We have added tips on how and when to submit ABWOR applications in Summary Case Management (SCM) cases to our Criminal time saving tips section.

These are intended to help you avoid any issues and ensure applications can be approved as quickly as possible.

Background – SCM driving change from Summary to ABWOR

With the roll out around the country of the Summary Case Management (SCM) process almost complete, we are seeing a greater use of Summary Criminal ABWOR, and a shift from Summary Criminal applications following not guilty pleas.

Prior to the commencement of the SCM pilots in late 2022, Criminal ABWOR accounted for about 25% of the combined receipts of applications for both ABWOR and Summary Criminal Legal Aid.

In November 2025, this had increased to 51%, so we are now receiving more Summary ABWOR applications than Summary Criminal Applications.

Our work on the reforms of Summary Criminal Legal Assistance will see Summary Criminal ABWOR being replaced by Summary Criminal Legal Aid for all summary cases in late 2026.

We accept that the procedures for custody ‘Appointed Solicitor’ ABWOR and non-custody Summary ABWOR can often be quite complicated, which is why we are simplifying the whole process with the move to a single Summary Criminal system later in the year.

However, for the time being, we thought it was worth issuing these tips with some reminders on when and how to submit the ABWOR applications.

See our Criminal time saving tips

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