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In this update:
Legal aid bill - the end of the road
New criminal forms
Guidance for solicitors and barristers billing civil cases
Family high cost case plans
Deadline for duty solicitors
Legal aid bill The bill reached the end of the Parliamentary process this week and is likely to get Royal Assent in the next few days. After ping-ponging between the Commons and the Lords, debate finally reached the end when the final Lords amendment, on domestic violence in family cases, was tied in the Lords and under Parliamentary rules therefore lost. The next stage in the reform process is the opening of
tenders for new contracts on the basis of the new Act from April 2013, for more on which see our
recent posts.
New criminal forms Version 8 CDS14 and CDS15 forms will not be valid after 6th May. Version 9 forms
must be used from 7th May onwards. The revised forms, and a guide to completion, are available
here.
Civil billing guidance In an attempt to reduce rejections of civil bills from both solicitors and barristers, the LSC has
issued further guidance. It is quite extensive and useful as a checklist in reducing rejects, and the LSC will implement it in full from 1st June. The guidance for
solicitors and for
barristers is available on the LSC website.
Family high cost case plans In a further attempt to reduce rejection rates, the LSC have also
issued guidance on submitting high cost case plans in family cases.
Deadline for duty solicitors Criminal duty solicitors are
reminded that changes or additions to scheme membership need to be with the LSC by 14th May.