Measuring performance

On this page:

What is a Contract Compliance Audit?
How the audit process works
Appealing against the decision

What is a Contract Compliance Audit?

The LSC is accountable to the government and the taxpayer for money paid out under contracts. We audit these contracts (both Solicitor and NfP) to provide assurance that contract work is:

in line with the reasons why legal aid was granted
being carried out according to the contract rules.

We audit files to check compliance with the rules and guidance of the:

General Civil Contract
Unified Contract
General Criminal Contract
Criminal Bills Assessment Manual
Police Station/Court Duty Solicitor Cost Assessment Manual.

We look to see whether:

the work is properly evidenced on the file
costs incurred are reasonable
evidence that Specialist Quality Mark requirements are met.

How the audit process works

The LSC selects a sample of files for review that are representative of work billed across the specific categories chosen for audit.

They will look for objective evidence to support all items claimed.

Appealing against the decision

Providers can appeal against the results of an audit. The appeal stages are:

internal review
Independent Costs Assessment
applying for a Point of Principle of general importance.

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Last updated: 02 November 2007