https://www.slab.org.uk/solicitors/training-e-learning-and-laol/legal-aid-online-ongoing-issues-and-workarounds/multi-factor-authentication-mfa-for-users-of-laol-updates-and-guidance/
https://www.slab.org.uk/solicitors/training-e-learning-and-laol/legal-aid-online-ongoing-issues-and-workarounds/multi-factor-authentication-mfa-for-users-of-laol-updates-and-guidance/
To increase the security on our systems we are introducing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for users of Legal Aid Online (LAOL).
We have taken the decision to move to the Scottish Government’s ScotAccount as a secure and simple way to access our online service.
This section has news updates and guidance to help users set up MFA using ScotAccount and deal with any issues.
If you have any questions, please email us at onlineMFA@slab.org.uk.
Everyone logging into LAOL will be required to use ScotAccount – solicitors, support staff and law accountants.
They must have a unique ScotAccount account created using an email address unique to them.
ScotAccount is the Scottish Government’s secure and simple way to access our online service.
Please ensure other members of your firm are made aware of this if they don’t receive email updates from us.
The ScotAccount service is already used by a number of government services. You may already have signed up to use ScotAccount to access services such as applying for a Level 1 disclosure with Disclosure Scotland or a disclosure for the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme
ScotAccount is one account which allows you to sign into a variety of services.
It will prove your identity when using our service. This will enhance the protection already on our systems.
We are aiming to implement the change towards the end of the first quarter in 2026.
You can create your ScotAccount now - Create a ScotAccount or sign in.
Please also see our video showing the process for creating a ScotAccount - Step 2 - Create or update ScotAccount.
Each user of Legal Aid Online should have an individual logon and password as per our terms and conditions (see Section 4)
As well as being a security risk, if different people are using the same logon details it also means we don't know who is using the system and this can cause audit issues.
Using the LAOL administration function, you can select users to have full access to your cases in the user profile section.
See our video on how to do this in the FAQ 'What if you don’t have a LAOL user account? How does a firm administrator create a user account?'
Everyone needs their own unique email address to set up their ScotAccount.
A unique email has always been a requirement for LAOL when you set up new users. This is not a change as a result of our move to Multi-Factor Authentication to improve security.
You have two options:
You must ensure you use a unique email address and the email address you use in LAOL is the same email address you use to create your ScotAccount
It is essential that the email address used in the ScotAccount you use to access Legal Aid Online (LAOL) is the same as the email address we hold for you on LAOL.
You have two options:
You can have multiple ScotAccounts as long as each email used to create the account is unique to you.
We do not have a preferred method of authentication when using ScotAccount to log into Legal Aid Online.
Authentication is the method by which you will receive your one-time passcode to login.
There are three options available to authenticate when you login. You can choose the one that suits you and your situation best:
Each user of Legal Aid Online should have an individual logon and password as per our terms and conditions (see Section 4)
Using the LAOL administration function, new users can be quickly added. These can be:
Once a user account is set up you can select what access they have to your cases in the user profile section.
This video shows you how to create a LAOL account for a new user.
If you have any questions, please email us at onlineMFA@slab.org.uk.
As we update you on the steps required, we will create and release guidance videos to help you at each stage.
It is important that you check the email address that is currently listed for your LAOL user account.
We have created a video that explains how you check and – if necessary – update the email address we hold for you.
Each person that will be signing into LAOL must have a unique ScotAccount account created using an email address unique to them.
To ensure a smooth and secure transition, the email address used to create the ScotAccount you use to access LAOL must be the same as the email address we hold for you on LAOL.
For security reasons, generic or shared firm email addresses such as ‘Reception@firm.co.uk’ are not acceptable. You must use an email address unique to you.
Please take time now to check the email address details we hold. Consider if this is the email address you will want to use with ScotAccount.
The video below shows you how to check your email details.
Please note that, while ScotAccount can also be used to access services in your own/personal capacity at home, we would recommend you use or create a ScotAccount using your work email address to access LAOL.
If you have any questions, please email us at onlineMFA@slab.org.uk.
We will be using the Scottish Government’s ScotAccount as a secure and simple way to access our Legal Aid Online (LAOL) service.
ScotAccount is one account which allows you to sign into a variety of services.
It will prove your identity when using our service. This will enhance the protection already on our systems.
Some users of LAOL may already be registered to use the ScotAccount service to access services such as applying for a Level 1 disclosure with Disclosure Scotland or a disclosure for the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme.
Please ensure that the email address used for your LAOL user account is the same one you used to register with ScotAccount.
We have prepared the video below to show the process for creating a ScotAccount.
To create an account, use this link: Create a ScotAccount or sign in
If you have any questions, please email us at onlineMFA@slab.org.uk.
We have created this short video to show you the process for signing into LAOL using ScotAccount once we go live with Multi-Factor Authentication.
If you have any questions, please email us at onlineMFA@slab.org.uk.
Legal Aid Online
4th December 2025
To increase the security on the SLAB systems we will be introducing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for users of Legal Aid Online (LAOL).
We are holding webinars on the move to MFA and using the ScotAccount login process. We will answer any questions you have on the move.
These will be held weekly from Tuesday 17 February at the following times:
Details of how to join the webinars will be given on the banner when you log into LAOL.