Legal Aid Newsletter | June 2026
Welcome to your June 2026 edition of the Legal Aid newsletter from Resolution.
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.
SQM Survey
The LAA has launched a survey seeking views on the Specialist Quality Mark (SQM). The survey will close at midnight on 22 June.
Resolution will be responding to the consultation despite the short consultation window. Views received from members so far are mixed, largely depending on whether the practice holds the SQM or Lexcel.
The survey has a number of questions, including:
• How clearly do you understand the purpose of the SQM?
• How clear do you find the SQM requirements in practice?
• To what extent does the SQM provide meaningful assurance of quality?
• What value does the SQM bring in your experience?
• Which aspects of the SQM do you think work well?
• Are there any requirements of the SQM that feel unclear, difficult to apply, or disproportionate?
High Cost Family Clinic
The LAA is offering a High Cost Family Clinic on Wednesday 15 July, as part of its #HelpUsSayYes campaign.
You can book a virtual face-to-face, 20-minute appointment with experienced case managers to discuss your current high cost family cases. Registrations are limited and the deadline is 5pm on Wednesday 8 July.
Updated Guidance on Gateway Evidence
The LAA has issued V15 of the guidance on Evidence Requirements for Private Family Law Matters.
There have been minor amendments made to correct typos in the document. Changes have also been made to the table at para 2.52 to clarify the registered bodies for Social Workers in England and Wales.
Changes to Submit A Bulk Claim (SaBC) information
The LAA has made changes to its webpage information on how SaBC works. There have been changes to:
- SaBC Common Issues and the FAQs document has been updated
- Last paragraph under ‘Launch of Submit a Bulk Claim’ has been updated
- Information under ‘Claims relating to the contingency period and Prepared submissions missing fee codes’ has been updated
- The ‘Immigration providers’ section has been deleted
Information under ‘Contact’ has been updated
Contingency arrangements – further reduction of emergency representation cover
The LAA reduced the time and cost limits for emergency representation to 16 weeks and £4,500 from 26 January 2026.
The LAA has given notice that it is going to restore emergency representation arrangements to standard pre-incident limits and processes. From Tuesday 23 June, the limits for emergency representation will reduce to:
- 8 weeks in time
- £2,250 in costs
This will apply to all new grants made under emergency representation from 23 June, although you may continue to apply for increased cost limits in line with standard processes where justified.
Existing grants will be subject to the emergency representation limitations that applied at the point of the determination.
Revocation of emergency representation restored
From Tuesday 23 June, the Director of Legal Aid Casework will revoke, rather than withdraw, emergency representation where a client does not subsequently pass the means test.
This means that the client will be treated as though they were never in receipt of legal aid rather than legal aid being withdrawn at a specified time.
The LAA says this reflects a return to standard practice and aligns the legislative framework with pre-incident arrangements.
Civil contributions temporary waiver to remain
The LAA has confirmed that income and capital contributions remain temporarily waived. They will issue further guidance in due course.
Contingency work guides
The LAA has provided guides which outline the procedures for handling contingency work and provide detailed explanations for specific scenarios.
Secure Browser Guidance
The LAA has issued guidance on how to perform key tasks within the Secure Browser
File Naming Changes in CCMS from Thursday 28 May 2026
The LAA say they appreciate the difficulties caused by the secure browser requirements and have been working on a solution that maintains security while reducing any extra steps needed to upload documents. You will no longer need to adjust file names before uploading documents.
In some cases, CCMS will automatically standardise file names after upload. This means the file name may look slightly different in the system, although the document itself will not be affected.
Legal aid for inquests
The LAA has been holding market engagement events for organisations interested in delivering legal aid arising from the Public Office (Accountability) Bill.
If you missed the events but are interested, the LAA still wants to hear from you.
Mileage rates remain unchanged
The LAA says that despite the recent government announcement relating to the HMRC mileage allowance rate, (which sets the level employers can reimburse staff tax free), legal aid mileage rates will remain unchanged. We will raise this with the LAA at the earliest opportunity.
LAA tender for Family contracts
The LAA is inviting organisations to submit bids to deliver family legal aid work in the following areas:
- Dorset
- Dudley
- East Sussex
- Hartlepool
- Knowsley
- Sandwell
- Solihull
- St. Helens
You can apply at any time. Successful applicants will work under the 2024 Standard Civil Contract and will start as soon as successful organisations pass the verification process.
LAA tender for Housing and Debt contracts
The LAA is seeking providers in 45 procurement areas across Wales, the north, east, west and south of England.
You will operate under the 2024 Standard Civil Contract, and will start as soon as successful organisations pass the verification process.
LAA tender for peer reviewers
The LAA has opened a tender for peer reviewers in Crime, Family, Housing , Immigration/Asylum and Mental Health.
If you want to apply for a contract starting 1 March 2027, you must apply by 26 June 2026. The tender will remain open until 2035, with contracts starting on the first of March each year until 2036.
Is the LAA querying domestic abuse gateway evidence?
LAPG has received feedback from members that the LAA is querying gateway evidence even when it is something that is listed in their guidance as acceptable.
We are willing to take up similar examples with the LAA anonymously. Please send examples by email to [email protected]
Congratulations to the LALY finalists
Resolution would like to congratulate all the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year finalists.
We are proud to sponsor the Family Award. The finalists for this category are:
Oliver Conway – Oliver Fisher Solicitors
Catherine Haworth – Haworth Family Law
Caroline Marín Pedreño – Dawson Cornwell LLP
It is not too late to book tickets for the award ceremony on Friday 3 July 2026 in central London.
Tickets are £60 with generous discounts for members of Young Legal Aid Lawyers and Justice First Fellows.