Guidance

Civil processing dates

Check timescales for LAA to process your work (for example, civil applications and bills).

From:
Legal Aid Agency
Published
1 June 2014
Last updated
2518 FebruaryMarch 2025 — See all updates

Applies to England and Wales

Summary of processing timescales

Information will be updated on a weekly basis and the current position will be the oldest date as of Friday the previous week.

The exceptions are Civil Applications which will be updated on a Monday, Wednesday and a Friday to reflect their current processing timescales and ECCT which will display the latest monthly processing figures.

(Last updated 25th18th FebruaryMarch 2025)

Current targets:

Civil applications Civil amendments Civil bills Very high cost case plans and correspondence (family cases exceeding £25,000 using single counsel*)
85% processed (end-to-end) in 20 working days (excluding the most complex cases) 75% processed (end to end) in 20 working days (excluding the most complex cases) 95% of complete and accurate bills within 20 working days 95% within 20 working days

We continually aim to turnaround applications and bills as soon as possible and strive to deliver performance under our current set targets.

(*) Please note case plans which fall into the following categories of law fall into the 2 Counsel workstream; Child Abduction, FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) and FMPO (Forced Marriage Protection Order)

Civil applications

Work type Current position (working days)
Applications (inc means assessments) 911 days
Amendments/Authorities 810 days
Appeal 46 days
Discharge 4 days
Means re-assessments 5 days

Civil bills

These timescales apply to paper and CCMS claims.

Please remember to submit your CCMS Outcome promptly to avoid payment delays as these timescales for CCMS claims reflect those claims that have already had their ‘outcomes’ reported and finalised. Civil news: submitting case ‘outcomes’ and prompt payments

Work type Current position (working days)
Court Assessed 5 days
Fixed fee 5 days
Hourly rate 5 days
FAS 3 days
POA 2 days

Please allow a further 5 – 9 days for payment to be received.

For further performance information please see the Government Performance Platform.

High Cost Family

Work type Current position (working days)
Single Case plan 20 days
Two Case plan 20 days
Correspondence 10 days

ECCT Applications

Processing Target Mat % in Target Average day’s to complete
We aim to process 80% of all Exceptional and Complex Case applications within 25 working days of receipt. This includes Emergency applications which are processed more quickly. Emergency applications are made where there is no time to submit a substantive application (for example due to an imminent hearing) and it is not possible to exercise delegated authority to grant emergency funding. 84%   14 Days
We aim to process 85% of all Exceptional Case Funding (ECF) applications within 25 working days. This excludes time any applications are on hold, for example if we need further information to be able to make a decision. Urgent ECF applications are included in this measure. 89%   18 Days

Updates to this page

Published 1 June 2014
Last updated 2518 FebruaryMarch 2025 + show all updates

    3. Civil applications updated

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