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Creation of the Legal Aid Agency
Legal aid continues to play an important part in the overall justice system. The new Legal Aid Agency, created on 1 April 2013, is responsible for commissioning and delivering legal aid for both civil and criminal cases across England and Wales. Matthew Coats, chief executive of the Legal Aid Agency, describes how it will operate.
The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders (LASPO) Act 2012 brought about the creation of the Legal Aid Agency, an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), which replaces the Legal Services Commission (LSC). Through the Legal Aid Agency, we will deliver a reformed legal aid system. The LASPO Act changes eligibility criteria for legal aid, as well as the range of cases in scope for legal aid. This will result in a reduction in public spending on legal aid from £2bn to £1.8bn in 2013/14, which forms a significant part of the efficiency savings the justice system must make. Becoming an integral part of the MoJ, the Legal Aid Agency will also be realising savings through the sharing of corporate services with the rest of the department.
The LASPO Act also creates the new statutory office of the Director of Legal Aid Casework, who will take decisions on funding of individual cases. I will carry out this duty, alongside my role as chief executive, and the necessary processes have been put in place to ensure we demonstrate independence of decision making through our actions. Each year, I will publish an annual report on my decisions.
Strategic objectives
Our approach will be centred on three strategic objectives:
•Strategic Objective 1: Improve casework to reduce cost, enhance control and give better customer service.
•Strategic Objective 2: Improve organisational capability to meet the challenges ahead, including developing and engaging our people.
•Strategic Objective 3: Build and maintain strong partnerships to secure quality provision and contribute fully to wider justice and government aims.
These objectives, taken together, cover our business-critical areas of efficient casework, effective commissioning and contract management and responsible management of public money, while also focusing on strong working partnerships and developing the organisational capability required to deliver on the challenges ahead.
Priorities for 2013
The Legal Aid Agency will deliver three clear priorities this year. First, we will concentrate on delivering strong operational performance in casework and in the stewardship of public funds. Second, we will focus on developing the organisation and the people within it to operate as an effective agency. Third, we will work more effectively with others for example by commissioning work from the legal professions that provides the right quality, at the right price and in the right places.
An evolution in delivery of legal aid
The launch of the Legal Aid Agency marks a significant evolution in the delivery of legal aid, with an organisation determined to achieve the best value for the public purse and deliver excellent standards of service to our customers – those who deliver publicly-funded legal assistance to those who need it the most.
The Legal Aid Agency will continue to develop its role as an active member of the group of organisations that make up the justice system. We will be collaborative in approach, but offer constructive challenge when necessary. As an agency we will be both positive and outward looking.
We will make the most of the opportunities presented by the creation of the agency to fully align ourselves and our objectives with the other parts of the MoJ, enabling a much greater contribution to the achievement of overall justice priorities as well as pursuing excellence in our area of expertise.