THE UNIFIED CONTRACT AND THE COMMUNITY LEGAL SERVICE (FUNDING) ORDER 2007 – CHANGES RELATING TO CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER 1 OCTOBER 2007

1. The cost of preparing a CLAIM1 for proceedings in the Family Proceedings Court now recoverable. Note that previously the cost of preparing the CLAIM1 was excluded for cases in the Family Proceedings Court. (See now Paragraph 15.10 of the Costs Assessment Guidance (CAG) in Volume II of the Legal Services Commission Manual (Civil Contracting).

2. Enhancements can now be claimed for private law family work in the Family Proceedings Court. Previously there was no provision to claim enhancements. Note that this is applicable to certificates issued from 2 April 2007. (See Paragraph 12.14 of the CAG.

3. The Scale Item limit for bill preparation of £56.95 within family and care proceedings has now been abolished. The cost of preparing a bill for detailed assessment or a CLAIM1 is now recoverable at the same hourly rate as applicable to all other preparation within the proceedings being conducted. (See Paragraphs 15.8, 15.9 and 15.10 of the CAG).

4. Time limit for submitting a claim for assessment by the LSC now extended from three months to six months from the conclusion of the case and there is no longer any specific provision for the LSC to apply any deductions for late submission. (See Paragraph 15.21 of the CAG).

Filed under:
Important Info, Legal Aid, News, Public Funding, Rates and Fees by admin