Legal Aid (UK)

Question 1

CCMS

Answer 1

Client and Contract Management System - online portal to submit applications, amendments and claims to the LAA for civil and family licensed work

Question 2

CMRF

Answer 2

This used to be an actual paper form (controlled matter report form) used to submit monthly claims for civil and family controlled work and crime lower claims to the LSC. The forms have been replaced with the CWA portal; but the expression “CMRF code|” remains in use to describe the codes which are still being used.

Question 3

Controlled Legal Representation

Answer 3

Representation before the Mental Health Tribunal or the Immigration Tribunal, granted by the provider under contract with the LAA

Question 4

Controlled Work Administration (CWA)

Answer 4

Online portal used to submit monthly claims for civil and family controlled work and crime lower. Also used by the LAA for, eg execution of contract documentation

Question 5

Escape Fee Case

Answer 5

Case which would normally be paid by way of fixed fee but which escapes because the time and item value exceeds a set ratio (the exact ratios differ depending on the scheme)

Question 6

Exceptional case

Answer 6

Previous name under the AJA 1999 for an escape fee case

Question 7

Exceptional case funding

Answer 7

Case which would normally be outside the scope of the LASPO 2012, but is eligible for funding under s.10, because failure to do so would breach the client’s human rights (or be likely to do so)

Question 8

Funding Code

Answer 8

The criteria by which the LAA decided whether to grant all levels of civil funding under the AJA 1999. Preserved only for cases existing as at 31 March 2013.

Question 9

Help at Court

Answer 9

An adjunct to Legal Help, which allows representation at particulars hearings in defined cases

Question 10

Individual Case Contract

Answer 10

A separate contract between the LAA and a provider on a particular case, usually because of high costs

Question 11

Legal Help

Answer 11

Advice short of representation, granted by the provider under contract with the LAA

Question 12

Licensed Work

Answer 12

Civil representation certificates - funding granted by the LAA or under delegated functions by providers

Question 13

Matter Start

Answer 13

Also known as a “New Matter Start” on NMS, a Matter Start is a case started under Legal Help, Help with Mediation, or Controlled Legal Representation and Family Help Lower (Public Law) where there has been no previous Legal Help

Question 14

Miscellaneous work

Answer 14

Work which falls within LASPO Act 2012 Sch 1 but does not fall within one of the defined categories of work. The work included is listed in the 2018 contract category definitions. All contract schedules include at least 5 matter starts which can be used for this work and more can be requested.

Question 15

Peer review

Answer 15

An assessment of the quality of legal work carried out by independent lawyers working under contract with the LAA

Question 16

Quality Mark

Answer 16

An accreditation scheme regulating conduct and quality of legal services. Providers of legal services must hold a Specialist Quality Mark (awarded by the LAA) or Lexcel (awarded by the Law Society) in order to be eligible to hold a contract.

Question 17

Cases started before 1 April 2013…

Answer 17

Subject to AJA 1999 regime (cases started from 1 April 2013 subject to LASPO 2012 regime)