Legal Aid Contract Tendering September 2017

In the next couple of weeks the Legal Aid Agency will finally be launching the tender process for new Legal Aid contracts to run from 2018. Those providers wishing to offer/ continue to offer a legally aided service for both family law and for family mediation from May 2018 will need to tender for new contracts.

This tender process has been much delayed and we are pleased that it will finally be happening.

From what we understand, we should meet the expected criteria for family law and family mediation:

• We hold the specialist quality mark of the Legal Aid Agency
• We have 2 Children Panel Members and 2 Resolution Accredited Specialists
• Ian is accredited as a mediator with the Law Society and Family Mediation Council

This is the third tender process and the previous one was the trigger for the foundation of Ian Walker Family Law and Mediation Solicitors.

That there is a broad and accessible supplier base is important to allow clients to access justice.

Training for members of Devon Resolution

Together with the Committee of Devon Resolution (of which I am Chair), we have organised some training to assist members of Devon Resolution to get their tenders right.

We are fortunate to have arranged the training with Matt Howgate who is a Legal Aid expert and is the main trainer for the Legal Aid Practitioners Group (LAPG).

The training will be on 13 October in Exeter. Devon Resolution members should already have received notice. If you are a Devon Resolution member and didn’t get my email about the training, please let me know asap.

The training is particularly aimed at those and their deputies who will be responsible for preparing, checking and submitting their firms tenders