Recommendation 16

HM Government Not Addressed

The Legal Aid Agency meets with representative bodies on a bi-monthly basis to discuss the operation of the civil and crime legal aid contracts as well as other legal aid processes, including how they may be improved. The Ministry of Justice will continue to work closely with the Legal Aid Agency to ensure a flexible and supportive approach. The LAA recently published revised Crown Court Fee Guidance and new/ updated claim forms to support the package of Criminal Legal Aid Review accelerated measures. This followed a number of constructive meetings with provider groups to refine and improve the guidance As set out in the covering letter, the Legal Aid Agency has adopted a range of measures - including revising certain contractual requirements - as part of its COVID response. They will continue engaging with representative bodies on the extent to which they should carry on going forward. The next phase of the Criminal Legal Aid Review will include an independently led review of the market, to ensure it can meet demand now and into the future, provide an effective and efficient service that ensures value for money for the taxpayer, and continue to provide defendants with high-quality advice from a diverse range of practitioners. Alongside this we continue to look at the current fee schemes to ensure they keep pace with wider reforms across the justice system. In addition to this, we are continuing to review criminal legal aid in the police station and magistrates’ court in the context of wider justice reform and are looking into the sustainability of the civil legal aid system and will consider the delivery and contractual model for civil legal aid within this work.