- Initiatives will support civil, family, and
criminal legal aid practitioners to keep the justice
system running
- Changes will make hardship payments easier to
access
- Some debt repayments to LAA will be paused for
legal firms
Introduced by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), the move
follows wider economic measures for businesses already
outlined by the government and will ensure timely support
for those needing legally aided services.
New steps were also announced by the department last week
in a bid to protect court users, the judiciary and legal
professionals by consolidating work into fewer buildings
and pausing jury trials.
This will maintain temporary safety measures in courts
and tribunals, in line with public health advice, while
helping to maintain a core justice system focused on the
most essential cases.
As a result of these necessary short-term changes, legal
practitioners have faced subsequent delays in cases
progressing through the justice system and a reduction in
new cases in some areas. This has impacted those that
rely on government-funded legal aid and provide essential
services in upholding access to justice.
These additional steps will therefore help legal aid
practitioners manage their funds in the short term.
The package includes expanding the scope and relaxing the
evidence requirements for hardship payments in crown
court cases – including reducing the threshold for work
done to £1,000, rather than the current £5,000.
We will also align legal aid fees for First Tier Tribunal
immigration and asylum appeals with HMCTS’ move to an
online system for these cases.
LAA has already:
- Introduced measures to increase payments for virtual
hearings in appeals before the Mental Health Tribunal, as
well as remote advice in police custody to ensure they
are in line with in-person hearings
- Halted pursuit of outstanding debts owed to the Legal
Aid Agency
- Encouraged legal firms to use existing avenues of
financial help, such as the ability to apply for early
payment for work already done on a case, benefitting
cashflow in the short-term.
Lord Chancellor , said:
I want to express my sincere gratitude to the legal aid
practitioners who have shown immense flexibility and
determination throughout this outbreak.
These measures are a clear indication of their
important status both in times of crisis and beyond and
the role they play in ensuring the justice system
continues to function effectively.
I will continue to work with the sector to ensure that
the most vulnerable in society are provided with the
representation and support they need through our legal
aid system.
MOJ and LAA are working closely with practitioners during
this time and will keep these measures under review.
Future additional measures will be considered alongside
the industry to uphold access to justice now and in the
future.
Notes to editors
- The measures we have
announced are available on GOV.UK
- The measures to
consolidate courts are available on GOV.UK
