Legal Aid Agency
Proposal to remove standard monthly payments from future contracts
We are seeking your views on the advantages of moving all providers on to a single system of monthly payments. This would mean removing the option of standard monthly payments (SMP) from future legal aid contracts. All providers would instead be moved to variable monthly payments (VMP).
We are inviting representative bodies and all providers to take part in an engagement exercise, which includes a questionnaire.
The engagement exercise will close on 30 June 2023.
We will publish a response to the engagement exercise in August 2023.
Read our .
Read for further information and how to provide feedback.
Management information online service
Using the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) MI online service, you can access, download and print financial statements from your own office or from the whole firm.
This service is only available if youre signed up to use to LAA online.
PSOA dates 2023
The PSOA gives you a summary document of all account transactions.
PSOA delivery date | Period covered-|-
| 6 January 2023 | December 2022 |
| 3 February 2023 | January 2023 |
| 3 March 2023 | February 2023 |
| 7 April 2023 | March 2023 |
| 3 May 2023 | April 2023 |
| 2 June 2023 | May 2023 |
| 5 July 2023 | June 2023 |
| 3 August 2023 | July 2023 |
| 7 September 2023 | August 2023 |
| 4 October 2023 | September 2023 |
| 2 November 2023 | October 2023 |
| 6 December 2023 | November 2023 |
| 5 January 2024 | December 2023 |
BACS payments
Once your bill is ready for payment, it might take up to 8 working days for the money to reach your account if youre paid by BACS.
Help us process claims more quickly by waiting 8 days before contacting our customer services team about payments.
Youll normally receive remittance advice on the payment date, unless there are problems with the postal system.
We make contract payments in the first week of the month (payment 1).
Note: the payment date stated on remittance advice slips will appear as 3 working days before you receive funds, due to additional processing time.
Monthly payment dates 2022 - 2023
| Monthly payment 1 | Monthly payment 2 | Monthly payment 3 | Monthly payment 4 | Monthly payment 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Dec | 12 Dec | 19 Dec | 28 Dec | n/a |
| 3 Jan | 9 Jan | 16 Jan | 23 Jan | 30 Jan |
| 6 Feb | 13 Feb | 20 Feb | 27 Feb | n/a |
| 6 Mar | 13 Mar | 20 Mar | 27 Mar | n/a |
| 3 Apr | 11 Apr | 17 Apr | 24 Apr | n/a |
| 2 May | 8 May | 15 May | 21 May | 30 May |
| 5 Jun | 12 Jun | 19 Jun | 26 Jun | n/a |
| 3 Jul | 10 Jul | 17 Jul | 24 Jul | 31 Jul |
| 7 Aug | 14 Aug | 21 Aug | 29 Aug | n/a |
| 4 Sep | 11 Sep | 18 Sep | 25 Sep | n/a |
| 2 Oct | 9 Oct | 16 Oct | 23 Oct | 30 Oct |
| 6 Nov | 13 Nov | 20 Nov | 27 Nov | n/a |
| 4 Dec | 11 Dec | 18 Dec | tbd | tbd |
Variable monthly payments guidance
You can choose variable monthly payments if you provide civil (legal help) and crime (lower) work.
Switch to the
Civil processing
Crime processing
Update your details
Note: we hold your details in a database.
Send any changes to your details in writing to:
Provider Records
Legal Aid Agency
102 Petty France
Area 13 Floor
Westminster
London
SW1H 9AJ