What's New

The LSC Manual is the essential reference guide for organisations providing civil or criminal legal aid services and contains the statutory, regulatory and contractual framework within which legal aid providers and the LSC operate.

The LSC Manual is available in hard copy volumes and also on CD-ROM and an on-line, searchable, web based version.

The LSC Manual is comprised of three volumes:

●

Volume 1: Crime

●

Volume 2: Civil

●

Volume 3: Funding Code

The major substantive change to the contents of the Manual in the December 2011 release was a second amendment to the Community Legal Service (Funding) Order 2007, bringing into effect the codification of rates fees for experts in civil proceedings and counsel’s rates in non-family proceedings, and a general reduction in fees payable under the contract. The Civil Contract Specification and Payment Annex were amended to reflect the requirements of that Order. In Volume 1, the Criminal Defence Service (Funding) Order 2007 was amended to include codified expert rates, with necessary amendments to the Crime Contract Specification and Payment Annex. Only minor changes were made to Volume 3.

The Family Contract 2012, effective from February 2012, replaces the Unified Contract for those organisations who conduct Family or Family & Housing legal aid services. The Family Contract 2012 comprises a number of contractual documents that family providers will need to be familiar with. Those documents that are specific to the Family Contract 2012 are now included in Volume 2 of the LSC Manual online:

●

Contract for signature (which amends the Standard Civil Contract Standard Terms)

●

Family Schedule

●

Family Specification

●

Specification: Category Specific Rules (including Housing)

●

Payment Annex

We hope that users of the LSC Manual will find this resource to be user-friendly. However, we are happy to listen to suggestions for improvements to future updates.

Ruth Wayte

Legal Director

February 2012