(1) The Board shall establish and maintain a register of advice organisations (“the register of advice organisations”) of organisations approved by the Board as registered organisations in relation to the provision of advice and assistance by persons approved by such organisations as advisers.

(2) A person who—

(a) is a solicitor;

(b) is an advocate;

(c) is a conveyancing practitioner or an executry practitioner, within the meaning of section 23 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990 (c. 40);

(d) has acquired any right to conduct litigation or right of audience by virtue of section 27 of that Act,

may not be an adviser.

(3) Schedule 1A makes further provision about advisers and registered organisations, the register of advice organisations, code of practice for advisers etc.

12B

(1) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations specify categories of circumstances for the purposes of paragraph (aa) of the definition of “advice and assistance” in section 6(1) of this Act.

(2) The power under subsection (1) may specify different categories for different purposes.

(3) In this Act—

(a) “advice and assistance” as defined in section 6(1)(c) is limited to the extent to which it is competent for the adviser to perform any steps on behalf of the person or by assisting him in so taking them;

(b) “assistance by way of representation” as defined in section 6(1) includes advice and assistance provided by an adviser but only to the extent to which it is competent for the adviser to perform such steps referred to in that definition.

Definitions.

Financial limit.

Accounts and audit.

Definitions.

Parliamentary procedure.

Regulations in relation to criminal legal assistance.

Advice and assistance

3

The proceedings before the Upper Tribunal mentioned in paragraph 1 are those arising from an application to the supervisory jurisdiction of the Court of Session that has been transferred under section 20 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007.

3

Civil legal aid shall not be available in relation to —

(a) election petitions under the Representation of the People Act 1983 ;

(b) simplified divorce applications under the Rules of Procedure of the Court of Session or the sheriff court;

(d) petitions by a debtor for the sequestration of his estate under section 2(1)(a) of the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 2016 .

Clients' contributions: specified criminal assistance by way of representation

Advice and assistance

False information etc.

Advice and assistance

Crown application.

False information etc.

Expenses in favour of certain assisted persons.

Expenses out of the Fund.

Regulations may apply Part II to representation.

Financial limit.

Advice and assistance

35AA

(1) For the purpose mentioned in subsection (4)(a), each of the bodies mentioned in subsection (3)(a), (b) and (c) must provide the Board with such information as the Board may reasonably require.

(2) For the purpose mentioned in subsection (4)(b)—

(a) each of the bodies mentioned in subsection (3)(a) and (b) must—

(i) inform the Board whenever it upholds a conduct complaint about a solicitor or (as the case may be) an advocate, and

(ii) give the Board a summary of the relevant facts,

(b) the body mentioned in subsection (3)(d) must—

(i) inform the Board whenever it upholds a services complaint about a solicitor or an advocate, and

(ii) give the Board a summary of the relevant facts.

(3) The bodies are—

(a) the Law Society,

(b) the Faculty of Advocates,

(d) the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission.

(4) The purposes are the Board's exercise of its functions under—

(a) section 1(2A),

(b) section 31(3).

(5) In subsection (2), a reference to a services or a conduct complaint is to be construed in accordance with Part 1 of the Legal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 2007.

Regulations in relation to criminal legal assistance.

Meaning of “civil legal aid”.

Legal aid in solemn proceedings

Meaning of “civil legal aid”.

Availability of civil legal aid.

Publication of Register.

Power of the court to grant legal aid.

Financial conditions.

Parliamentary procedure.

Expenses in favour of certain assisted persons.

Financial conditions.

Meaning of “civil legal aid”.

Financial conditions.

Expenses in favour of certain assisted persons.

Financial conditions.

Meaning of “civil legal aid”.

Availability of civil legal aid.

Contributions, and payments out of property recovered.

Expenses of unassisted party.

Expenses out of the Fund.

Clients' contributions: general

Automatic availability of criminal legal aid.

Legal aid in solemn proceedings

Legal aid in appeals.

Automatic availability of criminal legal aid.

Criminal Legal Assistance Register.

Part 5A — Children's legal aid

Legal aid in contempt proceedings.

28B

(1) This Part applies to children's legal aid.

(2) In this Act, “children's legal aid” means representation by a solicitor and, where appropriate, by counsel in proceedings mentioned in subsections (3) and (3A), on the terms provided for in this Act, and includes all such assistance as is usually given by a solicitor or counsel in the steps preliminary to or incidental to those proceedings.

(3) The proceedings are—

(a) proceedings before the sheriff in relation to an application under section 48 of the 2011 Act (application for variation or termination of child protection order),

(b) proceedings before a children's hearing arranged by virtue of section 45 or 46 of the 2011 Act (children's hearing following making of child protection order),

(c) proceedings before a children’s hearing or a pre-hearing panel if the children’s hearing or the panel considers that it might be necessary to make a compulsory supervision order in relation to the child to whom the proceedings relate that includes either (or both)—

(i) a secure accommodation authorisation,

(ii) a movement restriction condition,

(d) proceedings before a children's hearing to which section 69(3) of the 2011 Act applies (children's hearing following arrest of child and detention in place of safety),

(e) proceedings under Part 10 or 15 of the 2011 Act.

(3A) The proceedings are, where regulations under section 28LB are made, proceedings before the sheriff and appeals from the sheriff under Part 4 of the Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland) Act 2019.

(4) In this Part—

“compulsory supervision order” has the meaning given by section 83 of the 2011 Act,

“movement restriction condition” has the meaning given by section 84 of that Act,

“pre-hearing panel” has the meaning given by section 79 of that Act,

“secure accommodation authorisation” has the meaning given by section 85 of that Act.

Availability of children's legal aid: child

28C

(1) Subsection (2) applies where—

(a) an application is made under section 48 of the 2011 Act for variation or termination of a child protection order,

(b) a children's hearing is arranged in relation to a child by virtue of section 45 or 46 of the 2011 Act,

(c) a children’s hearing or a pre-hearing panel considers that it might be necessary to make a compulsory supervision order in relation to a child that includes either (or both)—

(i) a secure accommodation authorisation,

(ii) a movement restriction condition,

(d) a children's hearing to which section 69(3) of the 2011 Act applies is arranged in relation to a child,

(e) an application in relation to a child is made under section 34 (application for order authorising search in relation to child under 12), 42 (application for child interview order) or 61 (application for order authorising taking of prints and samples from child) of the 2019 Act, or

(f) an order is made in relation to a child under section 36 (search in relation to child under 12), 44 (child interview) or 63 (taking of prints and samples from child) of the 2019 Act.

(2) If assistance by way of representation has not been made available to the child, children's legal aid is available to the child for the purposes of—

(a) proceedings before the sheriff in relation to the application mentioned in paragraph (a) of subsection (1),

(b) the children's hearing mentioned in paragraph (b) or, as the case may be, (c) or (d) of that subsection, ...

(d) representations in respect of an application mentioned in subsection (1)(e), and

(e) proceedings before the sheriff under section 38 (appeal against decision under section 36), 46 (appeal against decision under section 44) or 67 (appeal against decision under section 63) of the 2019 Act in respect of permission to appeal a decision and, where such permission is given, proceedings before the Sheriff Appeal Court in respect of such an appeal.

(3) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations—

(a) modify subsection (1),

(b) modify subsection (2) and section 28B(3) and (4) in consequence of modifications made under paragraph (a).

28D

(1) Subsection (2) applies in relation to proceedings under Part 10 or 15 of the 2011 Act (other than an appeal to the Sheriff Appeal Court or the Court of Session).

(2) Children's legal aid is available to the child to whom the proceedings relate if, on an application made to the Board, the Board is satisfied that the conditions in subsection (3) are met.

(3) The conditions are—

(a) that it is in the best interests of the child that children's legal aid be made available,

(b) that it is reasonable in the particular circumstances of the case that the child should receive children's legal aid, and

(c) that, after consideration of the disposable income and disposable capital of the child, the expenses of the case cannot be met without undue hardship to the child.

(4) Subsection (5) applies in relation to an appeal to the Sheriff Appeal Court or the Court of Session under Part 15 of the 2011 Act.

(5) Children's legal aid is available to the child to whom the proceedings relate if, on an application made to the Board, the Board is satisfied that—

(a) the conditions in subsection (3) are met, and

(b) the child has substantial grounds for making or responding to the appeal.

28E

(1) Subsection (2) applies in relation to—

(a) proceedings before the sheriff in relation to an application under section 48 of the 2011 Act (application for variation or termination of child protection order), and

(b) proceedings under Part 10 or 15 of the 2011 Act (other than an appeal to the Sheriff Appeal Court or the Court of Session).

(2) Children's legal aid is available to a relevant person in relation to the child to whom the proceedings relate if, on an application made to the Board, the Board is satisfied that the conditions in subsection (3) are met.

(3) The conditions are—

(a) that it is reasonable in the particular circumstances of the case that the relevant person should receive children's legal aid, and

(b) that, after consideration of the disposable income and disposable capital of the relevant person, the expenses of the case cannot be met without undue hardship to the relevant person.

(4) Subsection (5) applies in relation to an appeal to the Sheriff Appeal Court or the Court of Session under Part 15 of the 2011 Act.

(5) Children's legal aid is available to a relevant person in relation to the child to whom the appeal relates if, on an application made to the Board, the Board is satisfied that—

(a) the conditions in subsection (3) are met, and

(b) the relevant person has substantial grounds for making or responding to the appeal.

(6) In this Part, “relevant person”—

(a) has the meaning given by section 200 of the 2011 Act, and

(b) includes a person deemed to be a relevant person by virtue of section 81(3), 160(4)(b) or 164(6) of that Act.

28F

(1) Subsection (2) applies in relation to—

(a) an appeal under section 154 or 163(1)(a)(iii) or (2) of the 2011 Act arising from a determination of a children's hearing mentioned in section 142(1)(a) if by virtue of section 142(4)(b) an individual is no longer to be deemed to be a relevant person,

(b) an appeal to the sheriff under section 160(1)(a) of that Act against a determination of a pre-hearing panel or children's hearing that an individual is not to be deemed , or is no longer to be deemed, a relevant person in relation to a child,

(c) an appeal to the sheriff under section 160(1)(b) of that Act against a direction under section 142(4)(a) that an individual is no longer to be deemed a relevant person in relation to a child,

(d) an appeal to the Sheriff Appeal Court or the Court of Session under section 164(1) of that Act against a decision of the sheriff in an appeal under section 160(1)—

(i) confirming a determination that an individual is not to be deemed , or is no longer to be deemed, a relevant person in relation to a child, or

(ii) quashing a determination that an individual is to be deemed , or is to continue to be deemed, a relevant person in relation to a child, and

(e) an appeal to the Court of Session under section 164(2) of that Act against a determination of the Sheriff Appeal Court where the effect of the Sheriff Appeal Court’s determination is that an individual is not to be deemed , or is no longer to be deemed, a relevant person in relation to a child.

(2) Children's legal aid is available to the individual if, on an application made to the Board, the Board is satisfied—

(a) that it is reasonable in the particular circumstances of the case that the individual should receive children's legal aid,

(b) that, after consideration of the disposable income and disposable capital of the individual, the expenses of the case cannot be met without undue hardship to the individual, and

(i) in relation to an appeal mentioned in paragraph (a) of subsection (1), the individual has substantial grounds for making or, as the case may be, responding to the appeal,

(ii) in relation to an appeal mentioned in any other paragraph of that subsection, the individual has substantial grounds for making the appeal.

28G

The Board may make the grant of children's legal aid subject to such conditions as the Board considers expedient; and such conditions may be imposed at any time.

28H

(1) The Board must establish a procedure under which a person whose application for children's legal aid has been refused may apply to the Board for a review of the application.

(2) The Board must establish a procedure under which any person receiving children's legal aid which is subject to conditions by virtue of section 28G may apply to the Board for a review of any such condition.

28J

The Board may require a person receiving children's legal aid to comply with such conditions as it considers expedient to enable it to satisfy itself from time to time that it is reasonable for the person to continue to receive children's legal aid.

28K

(1) A person in receipt of children's legal aid (the “assisted person”) may be required by the Board to contribute to the Fund in respect of any proceedings in connection with which the assisted person is granted children's legal aid.

(2) A contribution under subsection (1) is to be determined by the Board and may include—

(a) if the assisted person's disposable income exceeds £3,355 a year, a contribution in respect of income which is not to be more than one-third of the excess (or such other proportion of the excess, or such amount, as may be prescribed by regulations made under this section), and

(b) if the assisted person's disposable capital exceeds £7,504, a contribution in respect of capital which is not to be more than the excess (or such proportion of the excess or such lesser amount as may be prescribed by regulations made under this section).

(3) Regulations under this section may prescribe different proportions or amounts for different amounts of disposable income and for different cases or classes of case.

28L

(1) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations modify this Part so as to—

(a) extend or restrict the types of proceedings before a children's hearing in connection with which children's legal aid is to be available, and

(b) specify the persons to whom children's legal aid is to be available.

(2) If regulations are made making children's legal aid available to a child, the regulations must include provision—

(a) requiring the Board to be satisfied that—

(i) one of the conditions in subsection (3) is met, and

(ii) the conditions in section 28D(3) are met before children's legal aid is made available, and

(b) requiring the Board, in determining for the purposes of subsection (3)(b)(ii) whether the child would be able to participate effectively in the proceedings, to take into account in particular the matters mentioned in subsection (4).

(3) The conditions are—

(a) that it might be necessary for the children's hearing to decide whether a compulsory supervision order or, as the case may be, an interim compulsory supervision order should include or (where a compulsory supervision order is being reviewed) continue to include a secure accommodation authorisation, and

(b) that—

(i) the condition in paragraph (a) is not met, and

(ii) for the purpose of enabling the child to participate effectively in the proceedings before the children's hearing, it is necessary that the child be represented by a solicitor or counsel.

(4) The matters are—

(a) the nature and complexity of the case (including any points of law),

(b) the ability of the appropriate person, with the assistance of any accompanying person, to consider and challenge any document or information before the children's hearing,

(c) the ability of the appropriate person, with the assistance of any accompanying person, to give the appropriate person's views at the children's hearing in an effective manner.

(5) If regulations are made making children's legal aid available to a person other than the child to whom the proceedings relate, the regulations must include provision—

(a) requiring the Board to be satisfied that the conditions in subsection (6) are met before children's legal aid is made available, and

(b) requiring the Board, in determining for the purposes of the condition in subsection (6)(a) whether the person would be able to participate effectively in the proceedings, to take into account in particular the matters mentioned in subsection (4).

(6) The conditions are—

(a) that, for the purpose of enabling the person to participate effectively in the proceedings before the children's hearing, it is necessary that the person be represented by a solicitor or counsel,

(b) that it is reasonable in the particular circumstances of the case that the person should receive children's legal aid, and

(c) that, after consideration of the disposable income and disposable capital of the person, the expenses of the case cannot be met without undue hardship to the person or the dependants of the person.

(7) In subsection (4)—

“accompanying person” means a person entitled to accompany the child or other person to the children's hearing by virtue of rules under section 177 of the 2011 Act,

“appropriate person” means—for the purposes of subsection (2)(b), the child,for the purposes of subsection (5)(b), the other person.

(8) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations modify—

(a) the matters for the time being set out in subsection (4),

(b) the definition of “accompanying person” for the time being set out in subsection (7).

Part 5B — Children's legal assistance

Code of practice

28M

(1) The Board must establish and maintain a register of—

(a) solicitors who are eligible to provide children's legal assistance, and

(b) the firms with which such solicitors are connected.

(2) A sole solicitor who wishes to provide children's legal assistance must be included in the register maintained under this section both as a solicitor and as a firm.

(3) Only those solicitors who are included in the register maintained under this section may provide children's legal assistance.

(4) Subject to subsection (5), a solicitor may provide children's legal assistance only when working in the course of a connection with a firm included in the register maintained under this section.

(5) Where the Board employs a solicitor under sections 26 and 27 to provide children's legal assistance—

(a) the Board may only employ a solicitor who is included in the register maintained under this section,

(b) the entry in the register relating to the solicitor's name must include a note that the solicitor is so employed,

(c) the Board is not to be regarded as a firm for the purposes of this section and is not required to be included in the register.

(6) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make provision about qualifications to be held by persons who may be included in the register maintained under this section.

(7) Subsections (5) to (15) of section 25A apply in relation to the register maintained under this section as they apply in relation to the Register subject to the modifications mentioned in subsection (8).

(8) Those modifications are—

(a) subsections (8) and (9) are to be read as if references to the code were references to the code of practice under section 28N for the time being in force, and

(b) subsection (9) is to be read as if the reference to criminal legal assistance were a reference to children's legal assistance.

28N

(1) The Board must prepare a draft code of practice in relation to the carrying out by solicitors of their functions with regard to the provision of children's legal assistance.

(2) Different provision may be made for different cases or classes of case.

(3) Subsections (3) to (8) of section 25B apply in relation to a draft code prepared under subsection (1) above as they apply in relation to a draft code prepared under subsection (1) of that section.

28P

(1) Solicitors and firms included in the register maintained under section 28M(1) must comply with the requirements of the code of practice under section 28N for the time being in force.

(2) The Board must monitor the carrying out by those solicitors and firms of their duty under subsection (1).

(3) For the purpose of carrying out its duty under subsection (2) the Board may use the powers conferred on it by sections 35A and 35B.

28Q

(1) Section 25D applies in relation to a solicitor or firm included in the register maintained under section 28M(1) and the code of practice under section 28N for the time being in force as it applies in relation to a registered solicitor or registered firm and the code subject to the modifications mentioned in subsection (2).

(2) Those modifications are—

(a) references to the Register are to be read as if they were references to the register maintained under section 28M(1),

(b) subsection (6) is to be read as if the references to criminal legal assistance were references to children's legal assistance.

28R

(1) Subsection (2) applies where the Board is satisfied (whether on being informed by the solicitor concerned or otherwise) that a solicitor who is included in the register maintained under section 28M(1)—

(a) has become connected with a firm whose name is not included in that register, and

(b) is no longer connected with a firm whose name is included in that register.

(2) The Board must remove the solicitor's name from the register.

(3) Subsections (6) to (9) of section 25D (as applied by section 28Q) apply in relation to a solicitor whose name is removed from the register under subsection (2) above as they apply in relation to a solicitor whose name is removed from the register under subsection (4) of that section (as applied by section 28Q).

28S

Section 25F applies in relation to the register maintained under section 28M(1) as it applies in relation to the Register.

Confidentiality of information.

Solicitors and counsel.

Fees and outlays of solicitors and counsel.

Confidentiality of information.

Power of Board to require information.

Rules of court.

Regulations in relation to criminal legal assistance.

Disposable income and capital.

Act not to affect certain taxations etc.

Automatic availability of criminal legal aid.

Expenses out of the Fund.

Automatic availability of criminal legal aid.

Legal aid in respect of appeals under section 303A of the 1995 Act.

Legal aid in appeals.

Children's legal aid

Confidentiality of information.

Power of Board to require information.

Legal aid in contempt proceedings.

Restriction on payment and employment of solicitor or counsel.

Contracts for the provision of criminal legal assistance.

False information etc.

Parliamentary procedure.

Disposable income and capital.

Crown application.

Proceedings before the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland

Regulations may apply Part II to representation.

Financial limit.

Payment of fees or outlays otherwise than through clients’ contributions.

Regulations may apply Part II to representation.

Financial conditions.

Circumstances where children's legal aid automatically available

Register of solicitors and firms eligible to provide children's legal assistance

Legal aid in contempt proceedings.

Restriction on payment and employment of solicitor or counsel.

Contracts for the provision of criminal legal assistance.

Contracts for the provision of children's legal assistance

33B

(1) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations made under this section empower the Board to enter into contracts with relevant firms for the provision by relevant solicitors connected with those firms of children's legal assistance.

(2) Regulations under this section may prescribe—

(a) the procedures to be followed by the Board in awarding any such contract, and

(b) subject to subsection (3), any terms and conditions which are to be included in any such contract.

(3) Regulations under this section must provide that any contract entered into by virtue of this section must include a provision that, in the event of the termination of the contract, or a breach of it by the relevant firm concerned, the Board may—

(a) withhold payments under the contract, and

(b) require the firm to secure the transfer to a relevant solicitor of—

(i) any work currently being undertaken by any solicitor connected with them for any client by way of children's legal assistance, and

(ii) notwithstanding any lien to which any such solicitor might otherwise be entitled, any documents connected with any such work.

(4) Regulations under this section may provide that where the Board has by virtue of this section entered into contracts with any relevant firms for the provision of children's legal assistance in any area, then, unless it seems to the Board to be inappropriate in a particular case, any person seeking such assistance in that area is to be required to instruct a relevant solicitor connected with one of those firms.

(5) Any money due to a firm under a contract made by virtue of this section is to be paid to the firm—

(a) firstly, out of any amount payable by the client in accordance with section 11(2),

(b) secondly, by the Board out of the Fund.

(6) For the purposes of sections 32 and 33, the money paid to a firm, as provided in subsection (5) above, in respect of a contract made by virtue of this section is to be taken to be a payment made in accordance with this Act, and no solicitor connected with such a firm is entitled to any other payment out of the Fund in respect of any work done by the solicitor by virtue of such a contract.

(7) In this section—

“ relevant firm ” means a firm included in the register maintained under section 28M(1),

“relevant solicitor” means a solicitor included in the register maintained under section 28M(1).

Confidentiality of information.

Contracts for the provision of criminal legal assistance.

Parliamentary procedure.

Regulations in relation to criminal legal assistance.

Disposable income and capital.

Act not to affect certain taxations etc.

Crown application.

Proceedings for judicial review before the Upper Tribunal

11A

(1) This section applies where—

(a) assistance by way of representation has been made available to a client under section 9A(1) (“the assistance”), and

(b) the client—

(i) has disposable income of, or exceeding, £82 per week and is not (directly or indirectly) in receipt of any of the benefits mentioned in section 11(2)(b), or

(ii) has disposable capital of, or exceeding, £750.

(2) The client is liable to pay a contribution in respect of the assistance provided of up to, but not in aggregate exceeding, such amount as may be prescribed by regulations made under section 33ZA(1).

(3) Except where regulations made under section 33ZA(1) otherwise provide—

(a) in a case where the assistance is being provided—

(i) by a solicitor employed by the Board by virtue of sections 26 and 27 or, as the case may be, section 28A, or

(ii) by counsel instructed by such a solicitor,

it is for the Board to determine the amount of and collect any contribution payable by the client under subsection (2), and

(b) in any other case, it is for the solicitor to determine the amount of and collect any contribution payable by the client under subsection (2).

(4) A contribution collected by the solicitor is to be treated as payment of a fee or outlay properly chargeable (in accordance with section 33).

Clients' contributions: specified criminal assistance by way of representation

Expenses in favour of certain assisted persons.

Power of the court to grant legal aid.

Further provision as to removal of name from Register.

Availability of children's legal aid: child

Code of practice

Solicitors and counsel.

Parliamentary procedure.

Regulations about contributions for criminal legal assistance

33ZA

(1) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make provision in connection with the amount, determination and collection of any contribution payable under section 11 (in so far as relating to criminal matters) or section 11A, 25AA or 25AC.

(2) Regulations made under subsection (1) may, in particular—

(a) make provision permitting a lower contribution to be payable where otherwise the person liable to pay the contribution, or the dependants of such person, would suffer undue hardship,

(b) make provision for determining appropriate contributions where the person is in receipt of criminal legal assistance in respect of two or more distinct proceedings,

(c) except in relation to section 25AA, specify whether it is for the Board or the solicitor providing the assistance to determine the amount of, or collect, a contribution,

(d) specify how a person's contributions are to be transferred or accounted for in relation to proceedings which are—

(i) instituted by way of summary complaint but which are subsequently dealt with under solemn procedure, or

(ii) instituted by way of indictment but which are subsequently dealt under summary procedure,

(e) make provision about the payment of contributions by instalments,

(f) make provision requiring the Board to make arrangements to provide to solicitors a service of collecting contributions payable to solicitors on their behalf.

(3) Regulations made under subsection (1) containing provision made in pursuance of subsection (2)(f) may include provision about the operation of the service, including provision—

(a) regulating the arrangements for remitting to a solicitor the amount of a contribution (or an instalment of a contribution) following its collection,

(b) enabling or requiring, or, where enabled or required, regulating, the imposition by the Board of charges for the recovery of any reasonable costs the Board incurs in connection with the provision of the service to a solicitor.

(4) Regulations made under subsection (1) may provide for different provision in relation to different cases or classes of case.

(5) In this section “the solicitor” means the solicitor by whom any criminal legal aid is being provided or, where it is provided by counsel, the solicitor on whose instruction counsel provides it.

Contracts for the provision of children's legal assistance

Rules of court.

Proceedings for judicial review before the Upper Tribunal

Disposable income and capital.

Applications of Act to services provided under Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990.

Amendments, transitional provisions, savings and repeals.

Proceedings for judicial review before the Upper Tribunal

Contributions, and payments out of property recovered.

Legal aid in appeals.

Legal aid in respect of appeals under section 303A of the 1995 Act.

Criminal Legal Assistance Register.

Code of practice in relation to criminal legal assistance.

Publication of Register.

Restriction on payment and employment of solicitor or counsel.

Contracts for the provision of children's legal assistance

Confidentiality of information.

Regulations in relation to criminal legal assistance.

Disposable income and capital.

Crown application.

Criminal Legal Assistance Register.

Solicitors and counsel.

Legal aid in contempt proceedings.

Restriction on payment and employment of solicitor or counsel.

Regulations about contributions for criminal legal assistance

Parliamentary procedure.

Disposable income and capital.

Proceedings before the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland

28LA

(1) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations modify this Part so as to—

(a) provide that children's legal aid is to be available, in relation to a type of court proceedings under the 2011 Act, to a person to whom it is not available by virtue of section 28D, 28E or 28F,

(b) vary any availability provided by virtue of paragraph (a), or

(2) If regulations are made making children's legal aid available to a child, the regulations must include provision requiring the Board to be satisfied that the conditions in subsection (3) are met before children's legal aid is made available.

(3) The conditions are—

(a) that it is in the best interests of the child that children's legal aid be made available,

(b) that it is reasonable in the particular circumstances of the case that the child should receive children's legal aid,

(c) that, after consideration of the disposable income and disposable capital of the child, the expenses of the case cannot be met without undue hardship to the child, and

(d) if the proceedings are an appeal to the Sheriff Appeal Court or the Court of Session under Part 15 of the 2011 Act, that the child has substantial grounds for making or responding to the appeal.

(4) If regulations are made making children's legal aid available to a person other than a child, the regulations must include provision requiring the Board to be satisfied that the conditions in subsection (5) are met before children's legal aid is made available.

(5) The conditions are—

(a) that it is reasonable in the particular circumstances of the case that the person should receive children's legal aid,

(b) that, after consideration of the disposable income and disposable capital of the person, the expenses of the case cannot be met without undue hardship to the person or the dependants of the person, and

(c) if the proceedings are an appeal to the Sheriff Appeal Court or the Court of Session under Part 15 of the 2011 Act, that the person has substantial grounds for making or responding to the appeal.

3A

Civil legal aid shall not be available in relation to the following categories of simple procedure case (within the meaning of section 72(9) of the Courts Reform (Scotland) Act 2014) at first instance, namely—

(a) proceedings for payment of a sum of money not exceeding £3,000 (exclusive of interest and expenses), other than—

(i) proceedings in respect of aliment or interim aliment, and

(ii) actions for personal injury,

(b) actions ad factum praestandum and proceedings for the recovery of possession of moveable property in which (in either case) there is included, as an alternative to the claim, a claim for payment of a sum of money not exceeding £3,000 (exclusive of interest and expenses).

3B

In paragraph 3A—

(a) “actions for personal injury” means actions to which section 17 or 18 of the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973 applies, and

(b) “actions ad factum praestandum” includes actions for delivery and actions for implement but does not include actions for count, reckoning and payment.

2A

The proceedings before the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland mentioned in paragraph 1 are—

(a) those transferred to it by section 16(1) of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2014, in relation to the following enactments—

(i) the Rent (Scotland) Act 1984;

(ii) the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988;

(iii) the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006;

(b) those in relation to the Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016.

Expenses of unassisted party.

Further provision as to removal of name from Register.

Legal aid in contempt proceedings.

Restriction on payment and employment of solicitor or counsel.

Regulations about contributions for criminal legal assistance

False information etc.

Rules of court.

Act not to affect certain taxations etc.

Crown application.

Proceedings before the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland

Meaning of “civil legal aid”.

Legal aid in references, appeals or applications for special leave to appeal to the Supreme Court

Fees and outlays of solicitors and counsel.

Regulations about contributions for criminal legal assistance

Confidentiality of information.

Power of Board to require information.

Regulations in relation to criminal legal assistance.

Applications of Act to services provided under Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990.

Amendments, transitional provisions, savings and repeals.

28LB

(1) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations modify this Part so as to—

(a) provide for children's legal aid to be available to a child in connection with proceedings before the sheriff and appeals from the sheriff under Part 4 of the Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland) Act 2019, and

(b) specify the other persons (if any) to whom children's legal aid is to be available in connection with such proceedings and appeals.

(2) Regulations under subsection (1) may in particular made provision about—

(a) the proceedings in relation to which and the circumstances in which children's legal aid is to be available automatically,

(b) the proceedings in relation to which and the circumstances in which children's legal aid is to be available on application to the Board.

(3) Where regulations under subsection (1) include provision as is mentioned in subsection (2)(b), the regulations—

(a) must make provision for the conditions as to which the Board is to be satisfied before children's legal aid is to be made available,

(b) may make provision for different conditions to be satisfied in relation to different persons.

Legal aid in contempt proceedings.

Restriction on payment and employment of solicitor or counsel.

Recovery where interim payment excessive

Contracts for the provision of children's legal assistance

Regulations in relation to criminal legal assistance.

Act not to affect certain taxations etc.

Crown application.

Proceedings before the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland

Automatic availability of criminal legal aid.

Legal aid in appeals.

Legal aid in respect of appeals under section 303A of the 1995 Act.

Restriction on payment and employment of solicitor or counsel.

Regulations about contributions for criminal legal assistance

Contracts for the provision of criminal legal assistance.

Regulations in relation to criminal legal assistance.

Disposable income and capital.

Interim payments to solicitors and counsel

33ZB

(1) A claim for interim payment may be submitted to the Board by—

(a) a solicitor who is acting for a person by providing legal aid or advice and assistance under this Act,

(b) counsel who is acting for a person by providing legal aid under this Act.

(2) A claim for interim payment must—

(a) be submitted in the manner specified by the Board,

(b) include a declaration from the solicitor or (as the case may be) counsel that the sum claimed does not exceed the sum that the solicitor or counsel would expect to be paid under section 4(2)(a) in connection with the provision of the legal aid or advice and assistance.

(3) If a claim for interim payment is submitted to the Board, the sum claimed must be paid out of the Fund in accordance with section 4(2)(ad) to the solicitor or counsel who submitted the claim.

(4) But the Board may reject the claim if it appears to it that the sum claimed is likely to exceed the sum it would expect to be payable to the solicitor or counsel under section 4(2)(a) in connection with the provision of the legal aid or advice and assistance.

(5) In forming an expectation about the sum payable under section 4(2)(a), for the purposes of subsections (2) and (4), no account is to be taken of the deduction that would be made under section 33(6) if the claim for interim payment were met.

33ZC

(1) This section applies where—

(a) a sum has been paid out of the Fund under section 4(2)(ad) to a solicitor or counsel while providing legal aid or advice and assistance, and

(b) the solicitor or counsel is no longer providing the legal aid or advice and assistance.

(2) Where the sum paid out of the Fund exceeds the sum that would, but for section 33(6), be payable under section 4(2)(a) in connection with the provision of the legal aid or advice and assistance, the solicitor or (as the case may be) counsel is liable to the Board for the difference between the sums.

(3) A firm is jointly and severally liable for a sum owed by a solicitor to the Board by virtue of subsection (2) if the interim payment referred to in that subsection was made to the firm on the solicitor’s instruction.

(4) Where—

(a) a firm is jointly and severally liable to the Board for a sum by virtue of subsection (3), and

(b) a separate sum is due to be paid out of the Fund to the firm, on the instruction of a solicitor,

the Board may deduct all or part of the sum mentioned in paragraph (a) from the sum mentioned in paragraph (b).

(5) This section is without prejudice to any other enactment or rule of law under which the difference between the sums mentioned in subsection (2) may be recovered.

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