CLS news

Today we launched a 12-week consultation that will help us improve client access to future civil legal aid services.

We are consulting on proposals that specify:

• the types of service we want to buy
• where services are delivered
• how we will invite tenders for new contracts
• changes to the scope of funding, including changes to payment for experts
• key amendments to the contract standard terms.

A more effective legal aid system

These proposals would help us move towards a more effective legal aid system by increasingly contracting with legal aid service providers that can:

• develop their practitioner expertise
• ensure quality legal aid services
• ensure increased client access. 

We believe that our proposals would also allow our diverse provider base to expand, helping them to adapt to the more liberalised and competitive marketplace of the future.

How to respond to the consultation

Our consultation paper Civil Bid Rounds for 2010 Contracts is under CLS > Civil consultations. 

You can respond through our easy-to-use online response system.

This consultation is open for 12 weeks and closes on 23 Jan 09. 

For more information

The consultation paper is under CLS > Civil consultations.

Read more detail on the proposals under About us > Transforming legal aid.