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Reversal of In-house LAA Assessments

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Following the filing of a Judicial Review in September 2020 by the Law Society in regards to the legal aid costs assessments moving in-house to the Legal Aid Agency (LAA), it was announced yesterday the Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland has agreed that firms can choose whether the costs are assessed by the LAA or the […]

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Payments on Account of Profit Costs Increase

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billing

The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) has recently announced an increase to the amount paid on Payments on Account (POA) for profit costs. As of 4th August 2020, the LAA are now paying 80% of costs on account an increase of 5% instead of the usual 75%.  This is a temporary change to last until the end of January 2021. Claims made on CCMS now show as an 80% POA as the receivable amount. As a first, the LAA is also allowing firms to claim 100% of the Family Advocacy Scheme (FAS) costs.  These costs will be recouped upon […]

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Increase to Payments on Account Claims

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The Legal Aid Agency has recently announced an amendment to the Standard Civil Contract 2018 to increase the number of payments on account for profit costs that can be submitted within a 12-month period. It was previously the case that providers could only submit a maximum of 2 claims within any 12-month period. This has […]

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COVID-19 Coronavirus – Business continuity

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Further to the recently published guidance by the Government, we would like to reassure our clients that business will continue as normal. We have taken the approach to work remotely and continue to provide the services we offer. We have a secure system to ensure we can safely connect to your remote connections. As the […]

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LAA Claim Rejections

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The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) stipulates “the number of Claims rejected by us must not exceed 5% of all Claims submitted in that Schedule period”. The purpose of setting a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) by the LAA is to assist firms in monitoring their performances under the contract. Sanctions can be imposed by the LAA […]

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Unrecouped Payments on Account

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When a case concludes, solicitors are required to complete the final costs assessment procedure and inform the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) that the case has been settled. Whilst there are no late submission penalties imposed for matters opened after 2007, the Legal Aid Agency still requires a case to be reported to them, irrespective of […]

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Outsourcing Your Billing

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billing

What is outsourcing? The process to have part of a company’s work done by another company. Outsourcing is a common practice, the benefits of outsourcing can be substantial to a firm, from time saving to efficiency gains, just an example of some benefits a firm can gain in outsourcing some of their work. Are your fee earners submitting claims to the […]

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Payments on Account

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bookkeeping

We are experienced in claiming payments on account from the Legal Aid Agency. The Legal Aid Agency allows payments on account for: Disbursements which are already incurred or about to be incurred, Profit Costs. The Legal Aid Agency will pay 75% of your incurred profit costs upfront during the life of a case in subject […]

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Other Public Law – Free Guidance Released

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Public law guidance

Other Public Law – the Legal Aid Agency defines this as: any public law children cases other than those under S31 Care Proceedings. These can include child assessment orders, emergency protection orders, secure accommodation orders, other proceedings under parts IV & V of the Children Act 1989 and related adoption proceedings. When it comes to billing these matters and file openings we see a number of common mistakes […]