Accreditation

On this page:

The accreditation contribution scheme
What contribution is available?
How to apply
The future
For more information

The accreditation contribution scheme

In crime, the LSC requires supervisors and police station representatives to hold an independent accreditation to demonstrate their competence.

To show our support for independent quality assurance, we have a scheme for legal aid providers to claim a contribution towards the cost of obtaining accreditation.

A full list of the accreditation schemes where the LSC may provide a contribution is given at Annex A, under the Documents section of this page.

In 2009 the LSC consulted on changes to the contribution scheme that had been in operation since 2002. Details of the changes, and information about how the contribution scheme works in certain categories of law, can be found on our crime sub page.

What contribution is available?

The contribution for each scheme is shown in Annex B in the Documents section of this page. We do not plan to increase the cash contribution if accrediting bodies put up their prices, but may decrease it if accreditation costs are reduced.

Accreditation reimbursements will be paid from a fixed annual budget, which should meet demand. However, if funds run out before the end of a financial year, claims will be put on hold and processed at the start of the following financial year, if new funds are made available.

How to apply

Applications for contributions must be made by an LSC provider, not an individual. The provider must:

Complete the CDS 13 form – Version 4
Send it to the LSC together with a copy of the Law Society panel membership letter and a copy of the accreditation certificate to the following address:

Helen Missing or Carol Crabtree
Fothergill House
16 King Street
Nottingham,
NG1 2AS
DX 10035 NOTTINGHAM-1

An application for a contribution towards the cost of accreditation or reaccreditation will only be accepted if:

The provider holds a current LSC crime contract
The accredited individual undertakes criminal legal aid work for the provider at the time of application
It is submitted within six months of the date of accreditation
It is for a successful accreditation application
No previous LSC contribution has been made towards the cost of the accredited individual’s current membership of a different accreditation panel

Payments will be made to the provider via the BACS system and not directly to the individual.

The future

We plan to review the accreditation contribution scheme in advance of 2012-13, taking into account the experience of the current arrangements.

For more Information

Please read the FAQs on the right of this page or,if you have further queries on the accreditation schemes contributions, please send an email to: accreditation@legalservices.gsi.gov.uk.

Last updated: 04 April 2011