Reminder: Criminal legal aid eForms replacement
An overview of the replacement services.
Apply for Criminal Legal Aid (CRM14 and CRM15)
All new applications for criminal legal aid are now being made through the new Apply for Criminal Legal Aid service. It is no longer possible to submit new applications through eForms.
It will not be possible to submit pending applications (including previously rejected applications) through eForms after Friday 4 October. In these circumstances, providers should take the following steps:
- Create a new application in Crime Apply
- Attach a screenshot of the date stamp held on the eForms application - this will be Page 1 which holds the date stamp information and page 5 which shows the offences being applied for. We recommend providers start to take the necessary screenshots well in advance of Friday 4 October.
- Put a note on the Apply application in the “further information” section that the application was originally created in eForms.
- Please note without the above screenshot evidence attached to the Crime Apply application, we will be unable to honour the date stamp secured on pending eForm applications. This is because we will be unable to view incomplete applications on the eForms portal after Friday 25 October, when access is terminated for all users.
Apply for prior authority to incur disbursements (CRM4); Apply for extension of upper limits (CRM5); and Claim a non-standard magistrates’ court payment (CRM7)
Providers will no longer be able to submit new CRM4, CRM5 applications or CRM7 claims from Friday 4 October.
The LAA will continue to process applications and claims submitted before the Friday 4 October, until Friday 25 October. This is to ensure pending submissions are processed.
Providers will be able to respond to any LAA request via eForms until Friday 25 October.
Access to the new services can be found here:
LAA Online Portal (Legalservices.gov.uk)
Post Submission Evidence
Should post submission evidence (PSE) be required for applications made via eForms this will need to be submitted through post or email once eForms is removed. When eForms is no longer available, any PSE relating to an eForms application should be submitted via email to any one of the following:
- BirminghamCAT@justice.gov.uk,
- NottinghamCAT@justice.gov.uk,
- LiverpoolCAT@justice.gov.uk, and
- Self-employed PSE can be sent to nationalcrimeteam@justice.gov.uk
Please ensure you a keep a note of MAAT/URN references so that these can be linked to your original application.
Accessing historic eForms
Access historic eForms via the eForms portal is available until Friday 25 October 2024.
Following this date, all historic eForms will be made available to you by LAA via an e-mail request to online-support@justice.gov.uk or by calling 0300 200 2020 - select option 3.
The team aim to respond to all requests within 5 working days.
Download copies of any eForms that you might require before Friday 25 October 2024.
Relevant dates
Cut off for providers starting new forms for CRM4, CRM5 and 7: Friday 4 October
Cut off for providers using eForms to submit CRM4, 5, 7, 14, 15 and Post submission evidence: Friday 4 October
Cut off for access to eForms for assessment and providers accessing historical forms: Friday 25 October.
Further information
Please see Digital developments for criminal legal aid: replacing eForms - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
CMR4 and CRM5 replacement service launch - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
CRM7 replacement service launch - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
If you have any queries relating to the service, you can contact our Non-Standard Criminal Claims team via NSCC@justice.gov.uk