Service updates
Preparing you for the new LSC Online
12 September 2007New services accessible soon through the online systems available to providers.
As part of the LSC’s strategy of moving towards a more e-enabled operation, a number of developments will soon be made to the online systems currently available to providers.
These developments build on the ongoing success of the electronic billing service, LSC Online.
Electronic billing is a key element of our eBusiness strategy, and our overall plans to streamline processes for the benefit of legal aid providers and the LSC.
When will the new services be available?
The new online services will be delivered in several stages. The first implementation stage will begin on 5 November 2007.From this date, a number of online services will become available.
First, a facility to maintain your own:
- contact and reference data (eg equalities information)
- email and website addresses
- office opening hours.
This will give you greater control over the accuracy of the data held by the LSC.
Secondly, an updated electronic billing service, which will:
- support the new fee schemes which come into effect for cases started from 1 October 2007
- immediately and automatically calculate fees, indicating ‘Exceptional’ cases
- deliver improved validation of submissions, making it easier to accurately reports case outcomes and make claims.
Thirdly, an electronic notification system through which you will receive immediate information on key activities relevant to your contract when you log into the system. You will be sent an email to inform you that you have received high priority notifications.
Subsequent phases will deliver more online functionality, including:
- the ability to view your most recent financial statement
- the ability to view your performance against Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
More information
More information, including timeframes for later phases of delivery, will be released as soon as possible. Keep an eye on the LSC Update, the LSC website and Focus for further news.
How will you be trained to use the system?
Ensuring that you are able and confident to make effective use of our online services is of paramount importance.We will be delivering training through CD-based training modules that will be supported by detailed user guidance.The modules are fully interactive and use realistic system simulations. This means that training is as close to using the real system as possible.This method also allows you to choose when you want to complete the training, reducing the stress of learning.
We will be distributing the CDs to all contracted providers after 9 October 2007.
If you hold an active civil or criminal contract with the LSC and have not received a training CD by Wednesday 17 October 2007, please contact LSC Online Marketing.
We recommend that you complete the training modules as early as possible to prepare for the new online services from 5 November 2007.
Full user guidance will be available from the LSC website from mid-October 2007.
What support will be available?
If you are experiencing difficulties using the CD-based modules, please email the LSC Online Helpdesk. The Online Helpdesk will continue to provide ongoing technical assistance on all our available online services.Training support will be available from 9 October 2007.If you have a business query, please contact your LSC Account or Contract Manager.
What should you do in the meantime?
All transitional arrangements are being kept as simple as possible.Providers are asked to keep their claim submissions up to date.This will ensure accurate calculation of account balances and is critical to the successful transition to the improved online systems.
How will these changes affect current LSC Online users?
It is important to us that these changes do not negatively impact on your ability to submit your monthly claims for controlled work. To ensure a smooth transition there are some key dates you need to be aware of:
- the deadline for submitting your September claims is 15 October 2007
- the deadline for registering with LSC Online to make this submission is 10 October 2007
- there will be no access to LSC Online between 15 October 2007 and 5 November 2007
- you will not be able to make your October submission until 5 November 2007
- you will need a new username and password to use LSC Online after 5 November
- these details will be issued to all firms prior to 5 November 2007
If your firm does not register with LSC Online prior to 10 October 2007 a key contact in your firm will be set up with basic access levels that will enable him/her to set up other users in the firm.
To find out who this person is, please contact LSC Online Marketing.
Last updated: 14 May 2007