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We have today started consulting on proposals for how we will procure services and how they will be delivered from 2010 onwards. The focus is on making it easier for clients both to access services and to get a wider range of help at one point of access.
We have worked with our providers’ representative bodies to develop the proposals.
Our aim is to introduce reforms gradually, allowing service providers to adapt.
The proposals include:
- enabling social welfare law providers to form consortiums so they can offer help and advice on a wider range of categories
- setting minimum service specification.
The contract sizes will ensure legal aid service providers do a sufficient quantity of legal aid work so that:
- firms and advice organisations can offer comprehensive services, from legal help to legal representation
- we develop expertise among providers and ensure quality services
- we can improve client access to face-to-face advice
- there is a sustainable amount of work for providers.
The full consultation document is available along with a set of questions and answers that will be updated regularly. You can email questions to civil reform team .
We will be arranging events for providers around the country. You can hear about the key elements and discuss issues with us directly. We will give dates and details soon.
This is an important step in the reform programme so we would welcome your input. All responses can be submitted online. The consultation ends on 23 January 2009.
We have also issued a press release.
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LSC consults on civil bid rounds for 2010 contracts