.
Revised family fees Guidance on the new family and housing with family fees has been issued; the changes - an across the board 10% cut - take effect for all cases started under the 2012 contract, which comes into force on 1st February.
New forms Changes to
civil and
criminal forms will take effect later this month, with the new forms mandatory from 1st February. The new versions are available now on the LSC website for preview. Old forms signed before 1st February will be accepted until 29th February.
Criminal applications Also from 1st February, hardship applications for criminal legal aid for otherwise ineligible clients should be submitted to the courts, not the LSC. See the
LSC website for more.
Criminal costs Tony Edwards'
regular criminal law update in the
Gazette includes reports of several important cases on criminal legal aid in the Crown Court and is well worth reading. We have previously reported the
McClarty and
Ian Henery cases; just as important are
Schilling and
Otote on when more than one fee may be payable, as well as a further case on wasted costs.
Legal aid bill See our
earlier post on the progress of the legal aid bill.