GovWire

How to apply

If you think your client may qualify for legal aid, youll need to:

• help your client fill in the forms or apply online
• help your client get the right evidence
• complete the checklist where applicable
• send an electronic application or paper forms (where applicable) to the Legal Aid Agency (LAA)

Categories of law

The 2 main categories of law paid for by the LAA are civil (including controlled work) and criminal.

There are also a number of cases outside of mainstream funding where applications to specialist teams are required. These are:

• very high cost cases (VHCC)
• exceptional case funding (ECF)

Make a civil application

When youve checked your clients eligibility for civil legal aid, you can apply online through the Client and Cost Management System (CCMS). You can access CCMS through the online portal.

Alternatively, you can also fill in one of the civil means-testing forms and the appropriate civil application forms as required by the LAA.

Controlled work applications

Find the controlled work forms you need before applying for legal help funding or for controlled legal representation at mental health tribunal proceedings or before the first-tier tribunal in asylum or immigration.

Supply the correct evidence

Make sure you have the correct evidence, such as bank statements or remittance slips. CCMS will provide an evidence checklist as part of the online application process. If applying via paper forms the evidence needed is stated on the individual forms but incorrect or incomplete evidence remains a common reason for applications being delayed or rejected.

Complete checklist - paper applications only

Many applications are rejected for avoidable reasons, such as the form being unsigned, not dated or incomplete.

You can save time by following the checklist for new applications.

Where to send your forms

Email: contactcivil@justice.gov.uk

Phone: 0300 200 2020

DX: 742350 Jarrow

Where to send controlled work forms

DX: 745810 Liverpool 35

Email: mhu-ec@justice.gov.uk

Phone: 0151 235 6750

Document uploads into CCMS

You can either upload documents directly onto CCMS or send documents to be scanned to:

DX 324205

Application timescales

85% of applications for civil legal aid are processed in 20 working days.

75% of civil amendments are processed (end to end) in 20 working days (excluding the most complex cases).

How to get paid

When your case comes to a close, youll need to get paid. You will need to submit a claim.

Questions about email processes

If you have queries about your paper application (for CCMS applications see CCMS queries) email: contactcivil@justice.gov.uk

Emails sent into Contact Civil are separated into 4 categories, depending on the keyword used within the subject title of the email.

The 4 boxes are for merits, means, finance and counsel work.

Below is a list of examples you should use depending on the work you are submitting:

For example:

• your query relates to the legal aspect of a case, then you should include the word Merits in your subject header, along with case reference number
• you are attaching further information relating to the financial circumstances of a client then you should include the word Further information

This will allow us to direct your enquiry to the correct team. If you do not use the correct keyword there may be a delay dealing with your enquiry.

To enable us to locate your client on the system please include your clients legal aid certificate number. If you dont have a certificate number, use your clients name and date of birth or address.

Client and Cost Management System (CCMS) queries

If your query is about a CCMS case you should use the case enquiry task button. Alternatively, if your query is more general and not case specific you should use the general enquiry task button. Please visit the Contacts page of the CCMS website for details of who to contact in the following scenarios:

1. When you have a CCMS query
2. When you are unable to access CCMS due to a technical issue
3. When you have an urgent query
4. When you have feedback for the CCMS team
5. If you would like to make a complaint
6. If you are dissatisfied with the complaint response that you have received
7. If you need to post documents

Contacts page of the CCMS website.

Make a crime application

To apply for criminal legal aid for legal representation in the courts, your client must complete a CRM14 eForm with you. Depending on the type of case and where its being heard, they may have to provide information in relation to:

• income
• outgoings
• capital and equity

The eForm will tell you what evidence is required based on answers to the questions.

Depending on the type of case and where its being heard they may need to pass a means test (financial) and a merits test, Interests of Justice (IoJ), to be eligible. If eligible, the means test will also determine how much they may have to contribute towards their legal aid in the Crown court.

Find out how to work out who qualifies

Length of application process

Our targets are as follows:

• 95% of criminal legal aid applications to be processed in 2 working days (100% in 6 working days)
• 100% of administrative appeals to be processed in 2 working days

Contact details

The Crime Applications Teams (CAT) process the majority of applications, whilst the National Crime Team (NCT) process:

• Applications where the clients finances are more complicated which we refer to as complex means
• Applications for a review on the grounds of hardship
• Applications for an eligibility review (where applicant has been refused legal aid for their Crown court trial)
• Non means tested applications
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