Legal Aid Agency
Agency
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Introducing new Mandatory and Discretionary disregards to the financial eligibility tests for civil and criminal legal aid.
Criminal legal aid will be bolstered by £24 million, as part of government work to tackle crisis in the justice system and keep courts running.
Fees to cover completed pre-charge engagement work can be claimed via CWA.
The LAA will be re-opening the procurement for the Standard Civil 2024 Contract in December 2024.
The second stage of the procurement process opens for delivery of criminal legal aid services from Wednesday 1 October 2025.
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Guidance
We are inviting applications from individuals interested in becoming Peer Reviewers.
Latest from the Legal Aid Agency
What we do
We provide civil and criminal legal aid and advice in England and Wales to help people deal with their legal problems.
LAA is an executive agency, sponsored by the Ministry of Justice.
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Contact LAA
General enquiries
Unit B8
Berkley Way
Viking Business Park
Jarrow
South Tyneside
NE31 1SF
United Kingdom
Civil general enquiries
0300 200 2020
DX 742350 JARROW
Users experiencing technical problems with the Client and Cost Management System (CCMS) should contact online-support@justice.gov.uk
Case specific enquiries should be raised within CCMS.
Welsh language helpline
Welsh language helpline
0300 200 2020
Callers wishing to talk to an adviser in Welsh should press the # key on their device after the prompt.
Criminal application enquiries
Telephone
0300 200 2020
For information on how to contact us by post or e-mail visit the contacts page: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-legal-aid
Criminal billing enquiries
Telephone
0300 200 2020
For information on how to contact us by e-mail visit the contacts page: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-criminal-legal-work-under-graduated-fee-schemes
Civil Legal Advice
Telephone
0345 345 4 345
Get free and confidential legal advice in England and Wales if you’re eligible for legal aid. Work out if you qualify for legal aid at https://www.gov.uk/check-legal-aid
The service will check if you qualify for legal aid and if you do you can speak to a CLA operator who will check your details and put you through to a CLA legal adviser.
Public Defender Service
Cheltenham office
01242 548270
Darlington office
01325 289480
Pontypridd office
01443 629724
Swansea office
01792 633280
The Public Defender Service (PDS) is a criminal law supplier, funded by the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) and has offices in Cheltenham, Darlington, Pontypridd and Swansea.
Public Defender Service: Advocacy Team
Telephone
0203 334 4253 or 0203 334 6163
Our criminal defence barristers provide representation for legal aid clients in criminal cases and also work as court appointed advocates.
Secured Debt
Legal Aid Agency 1
PO BOX 10619
Nottingham
NG6 6DX
United Kingdom
DX 324205
Nottingham 59
All enquiries relating to statutory charge cases or debts that have a security against a property. To assist us with your enquiry, please provide an Office Copy Entry alongside any correspondence, if you have one, and provide written authority if you are acting for a third party.
Cash and Collections
PO Box 10620
Nottingham
NG6 6DY
United Kingdom
Telephone
0300 200 2020
DX 324204
Nottingham 59
Enquiries relating to management of unsecured debt and enquiries relating to receipt of money to the LAA. Payments can take up to 5 working days to show on our systems.
Reporting fraud against the LAA
Legal Aid Agency
Postal Point 13.53
Floor 13
102 Petty France
London
SW1H 9AJ
United Kingdom
Claims concerning LAA decisions
Central Legal Team
Legal Aid Agency
Postal Point 13.51
Floor 13
102 Petty France
London
SW1H 9AJ
United Kingdom
Technical support
Technical support
0300 200 2020
LAA eTendering portal
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- Read about the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and how to make a request.
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Freedom of Information requests
Postal Point 10:38
Floor 10
102 Petty France
London
SW1H 9AJ
United Kingdom
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