CDS News

Over 200 solicitors have already attended training sessions for the introduction of Crown Court means testing in five early adopter areas on 11 January 2010.

The remaining courses are now fully booked but if you would like your name to be placed on a reserve list, please contact James Bell

Event details are at our legal aid in the criminal courts pages

New guides for solicitors and clients

As part of the training, we have been giving out a hard copy of a solicitors’ guide to legal aid in the criminal courts. This is now available to download from our website.

A pocket guide called ‘your defence in the courts’ has also been produced for clients and explains the means tests simply. This is available in English and Welsh and hard copies can be ordered from Dsicmm.

The order numbers and details are below. The online order forms will be updated shortly to include these items.

Criminal Legal Aid guidance

 The new Criminal Legal Aid guidance and CDS forms will be sent to solicitors and courts in the early adopter areas before the scheme goes live. They will be sent to all solicitors who have claimed against the committing magistrates' courts.

We’ll give more details in next week’s LSC Update.

Ordering materials

You can phone, fax or email your order for the pocket guides and handbook.

The code numbers are below with the contact details

Code: CDS/YDC Your defence in the courts (English version) 
Code: CDS/YDC/BIL Your defence in the courts (bilingual version)
Code: CDS/LACC Legal aid in the criminal courts - a solicitors' guide

Telephone: 0845 3000 343
Fax:  0845 5438 258
email: cdsforms@legalservices.gov.uk