Legal Aid Newsletter | May 2025
Welcome to your May 2025 edition of the Legal Aid newsletter from Resolution.
If you have any feedback from this newsletter, or would like our team to look into any issues for you, please email us.
LAA cyber incident
We understand that the anxiety and uncertainty around the impact of the cyber incident is causing concern to members in terms of legal aid for clients and also payments to firms. You should be hearing from the LAA regularly. At the time of writing this was the latest from the LAA Update on LAA Portal availability.
We are continuing to press on other issues/contingencies especially the failure to address getting paid for anything except Legal Help and crime lower/mags billing. Please look out for further updates from us.
Nominate your Champions of Family Justice
Nominations are open for the Resolution Awards 2025. This year’s awards promise to be our biggest yet, with more categories, a brand new host and new awards to be won. If you know a member who embodies the Resolution values and is dedicated to making a difference to the profession, you can now enter them for a Resolution Award. Entries will close on Sunday 8 June.
New for this year, there is a specific category for legal aid practitioners. Resolution’s Legal Aid Practitioner of the Year celebrates an individual or group who have committed their expertise to give the most vulnerable individuals access to justice in family law, recognising the specialist skills legal aid practitioners demonstrate when working with vulnerable people, often in complex situations.
2024 legal aid contract extended
The LAA has extended the Standard Civil Contract for a further 12 months to 30 June 2027. Existing 2024 Standard Civil Contract holders do not need to take any action. You will be notified of an updated contract schedule in due course.
Existing providers wishing to open a new office or add new categories of law and legal practices wishing to apply for contracts for the first time can do so.
Resolution working for clients – changes to domestic abuse legal aid
A statutory instrument (SI) came into force on Wednesday 21 May 2025. The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (Legal Aid: Domestic Abuse) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2025 amends legal aid for domestic abuse victim/survivors and aligns legal aid legislation with other legislation on domestic abuse and immigration. It includes several provisions which Resolution has been raising with the Ministry of Justice.
The Ministry of Justice and Legal Aid Agency are making changes to the relevant Lord Chancellor’s Guidance, guidance on domestic abuse and the gov.uk website to implement the changes made by this SI.
LAA guidance for new providers
The LAA has issued new guidance for new providers. It contains a wealth of information in one handy reference document covering; the CWA portal, means, merits, exceptional and complex cases, high cost family cases, billing, and additional guidance and information. There are links to useful guidance and documentation throughout. It may also be useful to established legal aid providers.
Re-launch of ‘check if you can get legal aid’
The LAA has re-launched its website, designed for members of the public to find out whether they are eligible for civil and family legal aid.
It includes questions relating to scope, merits and eligibility. The LAA said: ‘This work has been a truly collaborative effort. The Civil Legal Advice (CLA) digital team worked closely with stakeholders from across the LAA and beyond, including legal experts and charities, to understand what people need when they are seeking legal help.
‘We listened to clients, tested different approaches and studied how people talk about their problems. This allowed us to move away from complex legal jargon and design a tool that speaks in a language that feels accessible and human.’
There is a separate website which is designed for practitioners. It does not include scope or merits criteria and should only take about five minutes to complete if you have full means information.
View the Lord Chancellor’s guidance on means testing
LAA Q&A event ‘Lifecycle of a certificated case’ – 5 June 2025
Hosted by an LAA panel of subject matter experts from their civil means, merits, billing and high cost family teams, this Q&A event will give you the opportunity to ask questions on how to get all aspects of civil certificated cases right first time.
Registrations close 5pm on Thursday 29 May 2025
Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards shortlist announced
Resolution would like to congratulate all those nominated for this year’s Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards.
In particular, those shortlisted for the Family category, sponsored by Resolution:
- Mary Richardson – Miles and Partners LLP
- Beverley Watkins – Watkins Solicitors
- Lynsey Welsh – Cartwright King
There is still time for you to book your tickets for the awards ceremony on 4 July in London.
LAPG conference – save the date
A&O Shearman will host the LAPG conference in their office near Liverpool St, London, on 20 October this year.