Legal Aid Newsletter | January 2026
Welcome to your January 2026 edition of the Legal Aid newsletter from Resolution.
We sincerely hope 2026 is a much better year for legal aid practitioners than 2025.
We will continue to put any issues you’d like us to raise to the LAA. If you have any feedback from this newsletter, or would like our team to look into any problems you face, please email us.
LAA cyber incident information updates
Access to CCMS has been restored and should be fully functional for applications, amendments, prior authorities, POAs, and billing. From 15 December the LAA has required all applications, prior authorities and amendments to be submitted via CCMS or Civil Apply – more information.
This LAA web page explains how the LAA is treating work received during the contingency period.
Monthly payment for controlled work continues to be through the contingency process for January; but Submit A Bulk Claim will be compulsory from February onwards.
Submit a Bulk Claim (SaBC) goes live 4 February
The LAA has announced that the Submit a Bulk Claim (SaBC) service will go live on 4 February following the final stages of digital testing. Unlike other systems restored following the cyber-attack, this is a brand new service, although retaining some similar functionalities to the previous CWA system.
You will need to use SaBC to upload January submissions, by 17 February. The LAA says this early deadline is to allow the processing time required to ensure payments are made on time at the start of March.
No further changes to the standard monthly deadline of the 20th are expected in 2026.
Monthly submissions via the contingency process ends on 20 January, and all future submissions must be via SaBC.
Resolution supports Law Society’s legal aid campaign
Resolution is proud to support the Law Society’s important campaign to save legal aid for families. The Law Society recently launched a new focus for its campaign on civil legal aid, and Resolution members are encouraged to support the campaign.
Since LASPO was introduced, we have seen referrals into family mediation drop by 61%. Put simply, access to legal advice early on means couples are more likely to resolve matters outside of court.
Resolution stands with the Law Society in calling for funding for early legal advice; to minimise conflict between separating families, lessen the demands on our overburdened family court system, and reduce the overall financial burden on the state.
For too many, access to justice is an uphill struggle. The Law Society’s Legal Aid Means campaign highlights why legal aid should be there for everyone who needs it. Resolution supports the Law Society’s call for the government to help parents get the best outcomes for children in child arrangements disputes, and help domestic abuse survivors keep their children safe.
You can show your support for the campaign by sharing social media posts – keep an eye on our LinkedIn and The Law Society’s posts for more information.
Government to receive client account interest – MoJ proposals
The MoJ has launched a consultation on a proposed scheme. Firms would be required to use certain types of client account. Some 75% of the total interest generated on pooled client accounts, and 50% of the interest generated on individual client accounts would be sent to the government.
The consultation ends on 9 February 2026. The consultation concerns how to implement the scheme, not whether to do so. The decision to go ahead has been taken following a previous consultation.
The consultation states: “We do not propose designating the scheme’s income for specific access to justice projects, or endowing it to grant-making bodies, as is the case in some other jurisdictions.” Instead, it is proposed to become part of general MoJ funding.
Resolution will be making a general response to the consultation. Legal aid firms are encouraged to respond, especially to consultation questions 24 and 25.
Fee increases for immigration, housing and some crime work
All rates for immigration and housing controlled work were increased for matters opened on or after 22 December 2025. The uprated fees, linked to the single fee codes, can be found here New Fee Codes.
Where applicable and only for increased fees, the LAA also increased the immigration profit cost and total cost limits that are set out in the 2024 Standard Civil Contract Immigration Specification (subject to a contract consultation).
The following fee increases apply to criminal legal aid cases beginning on or after 22 December 2025:
- Harmonised police station fees to £320 with the police station escape fee threshold revised from £960 to £650 (excl. VAT).
- 10% uplifts to fees for the magistrates’ court (including the Youth Court)
- Prison law fees increased by 24%
- 10% uplift to solicitor fees for some appeals work
Peer review process document updated
The LAA has updated the peer review process document, that can be found on the LAA’s audit webpage, when you scroll down to ‘peer review’.
Housing Loss Prevention Service
The Housing Loss Prevention Service enables anyone at risk of losing their home to get free legal advice, and representation in court, regardless of their financial circumstances.
Crime contract 2025 – tender still open
Firms can still apply for a Crime Standard Contract 2025. The application process document has been recently updated.
Members invited to LAA training
The LAA is offering two online events on Wednesday 28 January. Click on the links below to book:
- Means and merits assessments (09.30-10.30)
- Special Children Act Applications (14.00-15.00)
LAA’s Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025
The Director of Legal Aid Casework (Jane Harbottle CBE) has published the annual report for the last financial year. Both Jane Harbottle and the non-executive board Chair, Nick Campsie, acknowledged the challenges presented by the cyber attack and the patience of legal aid providers in difficult circumstances.
The LAA’s three strategic objectives support the wider work of the MOJ, linking to the department’s strategic outcome of providing swift access to justice. They were:
- Deliver access to justice through legal aid services that meet the needs of our users
- Modernise our services, delivering value for money for taxpayers
- Become a truly diverse and inclusive employer of choice
The LAA’s expenditure increased in 2024-25.
Legal aid statistics 2025-2026
The LAA has not been able to provide statistics of activity after March 2025, due to the cyber incident.