Pilot
On this page:
About the pilot
The aim of the Preferred Supplier pilot was to explore the criteria, systems and relationships that need to be developed for a new partnership between service providers and the LSC to be successful. It tested:
- devolved powers - providers making decisions that the LSC would normally make including being able to self-allocate new matter starts
- streamlining billing, payment and case management systems between the LSC and legal aid service providers
- the creation of a Relationship Management role to better manage the accounts of Preferred Supplier firms and agencies
- Relationship Managers and operational staff at the LSC monitoring service provider performance remotely rather than carrying out on-site audits
The pilot began in June 2004 with 24 firms and one not-for-profit advice agency. It was formally evaluated between June and December 2004 and again in late 2006.
Consulting with providers during the pilot
Throughout the pilot, in addition to the pilot firms themselves, other legal aid providers from across the country were consulted about the above improvements to our working relationship.
This included a series of focus groups held in each of the regions not involved in the Preferred Supplier pilot. The feedback from these focus groups was useful in helping us develop the national Preferred Supplier scheme proposals and can be found in the Related Documents section on this page.
Pilot evaluation
The summary of findings from the Preferred Supplier pilot were published in September 2005 and have been used to inform the proposals for rolling out a Preferred Supplier scheme nationally.
The evaluation period covered the first six months of the pilot from June to December 2004. Please refer to our press release and the summary report in the Related Documents section for more information.
The full evaluation report is not available from this website - it can be requested from:
Emily Paddy
Preferred Supplier Project
Legal Services Commission
85 Gray’s Inn Road
London
WC1X 8TX
Last updated: 02 December 2005