Legal Aid Supervision Course - All You Need to Know

Introduction

The LAA is now carrying out more contract compliance visits. Are you ready for such visits? For example, in Crime are you complying with the "Designated" fee earner rules?

Do you understand the rules that came into force under the 2022 Crime Contract and the new 2024 Civil and Family Contracts? - there are significant changes to the Supervision contract requirements under the new Civil Contract published in Sept 2023 with the Civil Tender for Family, Housing, Mental Health, Immigration etc.

The LAA has now published the proposed new requirements for its ‘10-year’ 2025 Crime Contract. This new Crime Contract could potentially last until 2035. It is therefore important that, as you start to prepare for the Crime Tender likely to emerge in September 2024, you understand the new obligations and opportunities.

Did you know that the LAA are carrying out Peer Review audits again in all Legal Aid Categories? Do you know how to avoid a Category 4 result? 2 CAT 4 results and you are likely to have your Crime or Civil Contract terminated. Such a result would also have implications for your future LAA tenders.

The relaxation of the 14-hour rule. Does that mean that you can relax? - What difference does the new 50 hours per month make for Criminal lawyers?

A key element of compliance is having qualified supervisors who have received the necessary training. The LAA's Supervisor Guidance suggests that Supervisors should attend a course that covers the following key skills: This in-person course satisfies the LAA Contract requirements for new Supervisors. However, you have to have completed it within the window specified by the LAA in its new Supervisor Declaration Forms for 2023/2024.

• Manage activities to meet requirements
• Support the efficient use of resources
• Develop your own resources
• Create effective working relationships
• Develop productive working relationships
• Develop teams/individuals to enhance performance
• Lead the work of teams/individuals to achieve their objectives
• Respond to poor performance in your team

If you are a new or existing SQM or Lexcel supervisor, family, crime or social welfare supervisor then this is an essential course for you. The SQM changed significantly in October 2022 and a new version of LEXCEL is probable in 2024.

What You Will Learn

This course will cover the following:

• The LAA proposed changes to the 2025 Crime Contract to enable you to develop your plans for the September 2024 Crime Tender
• Understand the LAA's contract requirements for supervision including the 2022 Crime Contract and 2018 (and 2024) Civil and Family Contracts
• How to conduct your file reviews more effectively and ensure compliant file management
• How to understand team dynamics and manage them
• Help your team comply with LAA Peer Review Requirements
• How to supervise more efficiently
• How to survive Legal Aid Agency and other audits
• The role of the Supervisor in improving efficiency
• Understanding competences
• How to manage performance
• Dealing with difficult or demanding team members
• LAA Data Security and Cyber Security Requirements post UK GDPR