Legal Aid Agency
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Summary of processing timescales
Information will be updated on a weekly basis and the current position will be the oldest date as of Friday the previous week.
The exceptions are Civil Applications which will be updated on a Monday, Wednesday and a Friday to reflect their current processing timescales and ECCT which will display the latest monthly processing figures.
(Last updated 08 October 2024)
Current targets:
| Civil applications | Civil amendments | Civil bills | Very high cost case plans and correspondence (family cases exceeding 25,000 using single counsel*) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 85% processed (end-to-end) in 20 working days (excluding the most complex cases) | 75% processed (end to end) in 20 working days (excluding the most complex cases) | 95% of complete and accurate bills within 20 working days | 95% within 20 working days |
We continually aim to turnaround applications and bills as soon as possible and strive to deliver performance under our current set targets.
(*) Please note case plans which fall into the following categories of law fall into the 2 Counsel workstream; Child Abduction, FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) and FMPO (Forced Marriage Protection Order)
Civil applications
| Work type | Current position (working days) |
|---|---|
| Applications (inc means assessments) | 12 days |
| Amendments/Authorities | 12 days |
| Appeal | 8 days |
| Discharge | 3 days |
| Means re-assessments | 2 days |
Civil bills
These timescales apply to paper and CCMS claims.
Please remember to submit your CCMS Outcome promptly to avoid payment delays as these timescales for CCMS claims reflect those claims that have already had their outcomes reported and finalised. Civil news: submitting case outcomes and prompt payments
| Work type | Current position (working days) |
|---|---|
| Court Assessed | 5 days |
| Fixed fee | 5 days |
| Hourly rate | 5 days |
| FAS | 3 days |
| POA | 2 days |
Please allow a further 5 9 days for payment to be received.
For further performance information please see the Government Performance Platform.
High Cost Family
| Work type | Current position (working days) |
|---|---|
| Single Case plan | 20 days |
| Two Case plan | 20 days |
| Correspondence | 10 days |
ECCT Applications
| Processing Target | Mat % in Target | Average days to complete | |
|---|---|---|---|
| We aim to process 80% of all Exceptional and Complex Case applications within 25 working days of receipt. This includes Emergency applications which are processed more quickly. Emergency applications are made where there is no time to submit a substantive application (for example due to an imminent hearing) and it is not possible to exercise delegated authority to grant emergency funding. | 84% | 14 Days | |
| We aim to process 85% of all Exceptional Case Funding (ECF) applications within 25 working days. This excludes time any applications are on hold, for example if we need further information to be able to make a decision. Urgent ECF applications are included in this measure. | 89% | 18 Days |
Updates to this page
Last updated 30 October 2024 +show all updates
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Civil applications updated
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Civil applications updated
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Civil applications updated
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Civil applications updated
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All Updated
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Civil applications Updated
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Civil applications updated
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Civil applications updated
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Civil applications updated
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Civil applications updated
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Civil applications updated
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High Cost Family wording updated
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High Cost Family updated