Civil
Gateway removal - Guidance on transitional arrangements (PDF, 419 KB, 1 page) details certain aspects of legal aid such as:
- prior authorities (including authorities for counsel and experts in Children Act cases)
- funding for cases outside England and Wales
Paying for your civil legal aid (PDF, 510 KB, 6 pages) helps clients with civil legal problems.
Contact details desk aid: criminal (PDF, 119 KB, 3 pages)
Early Asylum Billing: A Practical Guide (PDF, 115 KB, 1 page)
Lord Chancellors guidance
Lord Chancellor's guidance on determining financial eligibility for certificated work (August 2023) (PDF, 918 KB, 119 pages)
Lord Chancellor's guidance - exceptional case funding (inquests) (September 2023) (PDF, 210 KB, 8 pages)
Lord Chancellor's guidance - exceptional case funding (non-inquests) (July 2023) (PDF, 327 KB, 21 pages)
Notice to the Director of Legal Aid Casework: Lord Chancellors guidance on exceptional funding (non inquests) (PDF, 10.3 KB, 1 page)
Post-judgment notice to Director of Legal Aid Casework (DLAC): IS v DLAC and The Lord Chancellor: ECF Guidance (non-inquests) (PDF, 23.1 KB, 1 page)
Evidence requirements for private family law matters guidance (PDF, 438 KB, 35 pages)
Lord Chancellor's guide to determining financial eligibility for controlled work and family mediation (September 2023) (PDF, 427 KB, 47 pages)
Costs assessment guidance
The costs assessment guidance has been amended to take account of the UKs exit from the European Union.
There are 3 versions of the costs assessment guidance: one for use with the 2010 Standard Civil Contracts, one for use with the 2013, 2014 and 2015 Standard Civil Contracts and the third for use with the 2018 Standard Civil Contract.
For use with the 2018 contract:
Narrative and guidance: legal aid (PDF, 315 KB, 29 pages)
Costs assessment guidance (2018) (PDF, 1.1 MB, 106 pages)
Costs assessment guidance 2018 - version 10 - December 2023 (PDF, 1.07 MB, 106 pages)
For use with the 2013, 2014 and 2015 contract:
Providing advice to immigration detainees in prison (PDF, 142 KB, 6 pages) sets out the Legal Aid Agencys approach to costs assessment where work is undertaken in the magistrates court under a representation order. The guidance is applied when assessing non standard fee claims and for costs compliance audits on fee claims.
Guidance on backdating (
