Legal Aid Resources
Recent Legislation and Regulations
Recent regulations laid at the Scottish Parliament include:
The Criminal Legal Aid (Scotland) (Fees) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2010, laid on 26th May and coming into force on 5th July 2010.
The Advice and Assistance and Civil Legal Aid (Transfer of Tribunal Functions) (No. 1) (Scotland) Regulations 2010, laid on 29 April and coming into force on 9 June 2010.
The Advice and Assistance and Civil Legal Aid (Financial Conditions and Contributions) (Scotland) Regulations 2010, which were made on 29 March 2010 and came into force on 12 April 2010.
The Criminal Legal Aid (Scotland) (Fees) Amendment Regulations 2010, which were laid on 25 February 2010 and came into force on 23 March 2010.
The Advice and Assistance and Civil Legal Aid (Priority of Debts) (Scotland) Regulations 2010, which were laid on 19 February 2010 and came into force on 12 April 2010.
Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB)
The Scottish Legal Assistance Handbooks are the key reference text for legal aid practitioners, containing guidance, legislation and regulations. They are currently being reviewed and further information can be found on the SLAB website.
Scottish Legal Assistance Handbooks
Criminal Legal Assistance
A list of solicitors registered to undertake criminal legal assistance is maintained by SLAB. In order to carry out criminal legal assistance work, solicitors must be registered with SLAB and must also show that they comply with the Code of Practice.
Criminal Legal Assistance Register
Code of Practice in Relation to Criminal Legal Assistance
Civil Legal Assistance
All firms who undertake civil legal assistance work are also registered with SLAB.
Civil Legal Assistance Register
As part of the current review of the Scottish Legal Assistance Handbooks, a draft Civil Legal Assistance Handbook is now available which is designed to provide guidance and the relevant legislation to the legal profession on all aspects of advice and assistance and legal aid.
Civil Legal Assistance Handbook
Guidance to Legal Profession
SLAB have also issued a number of guidelines and manuals to the profession which are available on the SLAB website.
Guidelines, guidance manuals, category codes and eligibility limits
Links
Scottish Government
Scottish Legal Aid Board
Family Law Association
Glasgow Bar Association
To find out more about the Society's work on Legal Aid, please contact Andrew Alexander on 0131 226 8886 or follow ScotLegalAid on Twitter.
Page last updated: 13 May 2010.
