News and communications

We are making changes to the Client and Cost Management System (CCMS) to make it easier for providers to submit large hourly rates bills.

• Updated: 22 September 2023

New tool now available for providers to check a client’s financial eligibility for civil legal aid.

• Updated: 22 August 2023

Revisions include interim payment of cost claims known as ‘disbursements’ and the new section 28 fixed fee.

• Updated: 20 April 2023

We are developing a new digital service to replace CRM14 and CRM15 eForms and testing with providers and caseworkers starts in summer 2023.

• Updated: 5 April 2023

We are inviting providers to help with development work on a new tool for checking client financial eligibility for legal aid.

• Updated: 30 March 2023

You can now download new versions of digital Proceeds of Crime Act claim forms PA1, PL1 and PL2.

• Updated: 19 October 2022

New online civil funding application features for international disputes about rights of access to a child falling under Article 21 of 1980 Hague Convention.

• Updated: 18 May 2022

Changes to the way you contact the high cost family team.

• Updated: 21 April 2022

Changes have been made to our electronic handbooks to reflect the latest guidance.

• Updated: 3 March 2022

We have updated CCMS to accept means free submissions so you will no longer need to email your applications using form CIV ECF2 (INQ).

• Updated: 24 February 2022

Reminder prompts now being sent to request supporting evidence for application appeals is submitted within 7 days.

• Updated: 17 November 2021

New email service to help providers who have issues working with us on high cost family contracts.

• Updated: 5 November 2021

We are making a caseworker spreadsheet tool available to providers on a trial basis as support guidance when calculating client eligibility for legal aid.

• Updated: 20 October 2021

We are withdrawing the calculator tool used by civil providers to check client financial eligibility for legal aid.

• Updated: 7 October 2021

Changes include new guidance, provider checklist about refusals and online changes to improve how we explain rejects.

• Updated: 1 July 2021

A change to the layout and style aims to improve the user experience for means and merits work in the Client and Cost Management System (CCMS).

• Updated: 19 March 2021

A new service for law firms and other providers of civil legal aid is now available and will help to save time during the initial decision-making stages of applications.

• Updated: 4 February 2021

A new troubleshooting workbook has been launched to help you with bulk claim upload problems in the Client and Cost Management System.

• Updated: 14 December 2020

Our caseworkers will gain ‘read-only’ access to Crown Court Digital Case System files from 16 November 2020 to help improve decision-making on your claims.

• Updated: 12 November 2020

Defence practitioners need to register to use the HM Courts and Tribunal Service ‘Common Platform’ digital case management system in early adopter courts.

• Updated: 12 November 2020