Legal Aid Reform Consultation: Easy Read

Better decisions

Making legal aid simpler would mean we can change how decisions are made.

Legal professionals need the Board to agree before they can take steps in a case. This can take time and make more work.

Legal professionals could have responsibility to work on cases without asking the Board to agree every step. They would use simple tests for who can get legal aid and follow a clear guide.

Legal professionals would be able to apply for this responsibility. Legal professionals who do not apply would keep using the current process.

Legal professionals with responsibility would follow rules across all types of legal aid. This would:

• speed up cases
• remove extra steps.

The Board would spend more time making sure rules are fair and correct. Less time would be spent checking cases before they can start.

Checks would stay in place to protect public money and the justice system. Action could be taken where providers do not follow the rules.