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Legal Aid, Advice and Assistance (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 10 September 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
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Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Order (including any effects on those provisions):
Article 10.
F1prosp. subst. by 2002 c. 26
1. Proceedings in any of the following courts—N.I.
(a)theF3 House of Lords in the exercise of its jurisdiction in relation to any appeal from Northern Ireland;
F4(b)the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in the exercise of its jurisdiction in relation to any appeal or reference from Northern Ireland;
(c)the High Court and the Court of Appeal;
(d)any county court.
2. Proceedings before any person to whom a case is referred in whole or in part by any of the courts mentioned in paragraph 1.N.I.
[F52A.—(1) The following proceedings in the Crown Court under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002—N.I.
(a)proceedings which relate to a direction under section 202(3) F6. . . as to the distribution of funds in the hands of a receiver;
(b)applications under section 210 relating to action taken or proposed to be taken by a receiver;
(c)applications under section 211 to vary or discharge an order under any of sections 196 [F7to 199] for the appointment of or conferring powers on a receiver;
[F8(ca)proceedings which relate to a direction under section 215D;]
(d)applications under section 220 or 221 for the payment of compensation;
(e)applications under sections 351(3), 362(3), 369(3) or 375(2) to vary or discharge certain orders made under Part 8.
(2) But sub-paragraph (1) does not apply in relation to a defendant (within the meaning of Part 4 of that Act) in the following proceedings—
(a)proceedings mentioned in [F9head (a)] of that sub-paragraph;
(b)an application under section 221 for the payment of compensation if the confiscation order was varied under section 179.]
F6Words in Sch. 1 Pt. I para. 2A(1)(a) repealed (1.4.2008) by Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27), ss. 74(2), 92, 94(1), Sch. 8 para. 148(2), Sch. 14; S.I. 2008/755, art. 2(1)(a)(d)(iv) (subject to transitional and transitory and savings provisions in arts. 3-14)
F7Words in Sch. 1 Pt. I para. 2A(1)(c) substituted (1.4.2008) by Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27), ss. 74(2), 94(1), Sch. 8 para. 148(3); S.I. 2008/755, art. 2(1)(a) (subject to transitional and transitory and savings provisions in arts. 3-14)
F8Sch. 1 para. 2A(1)(ca) inserted (1.3.2016) by Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c. 26), s. 116(1), Sch. 7 para. 45(2); S.I. 2016/147, art. 3(i)
F9Words in Sch. 1 Pt. I para. 2A(2)(a) substituted (8.6.2008) by Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/1216 (N.I. 1)), arts. 1(3)(a), 85(2)
[F102B. Proceedings in the Crown Court for the variation or discharge of an order under Article 7 or 7A of the Protection from Harassment (Northern Ireland) Order 1997.]N.I.
F10Sch. 1 Pt. I para. 2B inserted (15.2.2010) by Legal Aid (Scope) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 (S.R. 2010/9), reg. 3(a)
3. The following proceedings in a court of summary jurisdiction, namely—N.I.
Sub.‐para.(a) rep. by 1995 NI 2
(b)proceedings for or relating to an order under the Summary Jurisdiction (Separation and Maintenance) Act (Northern Ireland) 1945 [1945 c.14] F11. . . the Domestic Proceedings (Northern Ireland) Order 1980 [1980 NI 5] [F11or the Family Homes and Domestic Violence (Northern Ireland) Order 1998[F12 or Schedule 16 to the Civil Partnership Act 2004]];
(c)proceedings under section 22 of the Maintenance Orders Act 1950 [1950 c.37] and section 13 of the Maintenance and Affiliation Orders Act (Northern Ireland) 1966 [1966 c.35] ;
(d)proceedings under Part I of the Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1972 [1972 c.18] relating to a maintenance order made by a court of a country outside the United Kingdom, and any such proceedings as are referred to in sub-paragraph F13. . . ( b) brought by virtue of Part II of the said Act of 1972;
(e)debt or ejectment proceedings within the meaning of [F14Part VI of the Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981], other than proceedings under[F14 Article 62(2) of that Order];
[F13(f)proceedings under F15. . . the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995;]
(g)proceedings under Article 101 of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 [1972 NI 14] and [F16section 101 of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992].
[F17(h)appeals under Article 22 of the Child Support (Northern Ireland) Order 1991, so far as such appeals are to be made to a court of summary jurisdiction by virtue of Article 2 of the Child Support Appeals (Jurisdiction of Courts) Order (Northern Ireland) 1993, and proceedings under Article 28 of the Child Support (Northern Ireland) Order 1991]
[F18(i)proceedings under paragraphs 3, 5, 6, 9 and 10 of Schedule 1 to the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001.]
[F19(j)proceedings under sections [F20195M,] 295, 297, [F21297E, 297F,] 298, 301 and 302 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002]
[F22(ja)proceedings for the discharge or variation of an order under section 195M of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002;
(jb)proceedings which relate to a direction under section 215D of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002;]
[F23(k)proceedings for, or relating to, an anti-social behaviour order under Article 3 or 4 of the Anti-social Behaviour (Northern Ireland) Order 2004;]
[F24(l)proceedings for the variation or discharge of an order under Article 7 or 7A of the Protection from Harassment (Northern Ireland) Order 1997.]
F17SR 1993/137
F20Word in Sch. 1 para. 3(j) inserted (1.3.2016) by Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c. 26), s. 116(1), Sch. 7 para. 45(3)(a); S.I. 2016/147, art. 3(i)
F21Words in Sch. 1 para. 3(j) inserted (1.3.2016) by Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c. 26), s. 116(1), Sch. 7 para. 97; S.I. 2016/147, art. 3(j)
F22Sch. 1 para. 3(ja)(jb) inserted (1.3.2016) by Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c. 26), s. 116(1), Sch. 7 para. 45(3)(b); S.I. 2016/147, art. 3(i)
F24Sch. 1 Pt. I para. 3(l) inserted (15.2.2010) by Legal Aid (Scope) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 (S.R. 2010/9), reg. 3(b)
4. Proceedings in the Restrictive Practices Court under Part III of the Fair Trading Act 1973 [1973 c.41] , and any proceedings in that court in consequence of an order made or undertaking given to the Court, under that Part of the Act.N.I.
Para. 5 rep. by 2002 c. 26
6. Proceedings in the Lands Tribunal for Northern Ireland.N.I.
[F256A. Proceedings before the First-tier Tribunal under—N.I.
(i)Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971;
(ii)section 40A of the British Nationality Act 1971;
(iii)Part 5 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002;
(iv)regulation 26 of the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006.]
F25Sch. 1 Pt. I para. 6A substituted (15.2.2010) by Legal Aid (Scope) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 (S.R. 2010/9), reg. 3(c)
[F266B. Proceedings before the Upper Tribunal arising out of proceedings within paragraph 6A.N.I.
F26Sch. 1 Pt. I paras. 6B, 6C inserted (15.2.2010) by Legal Aid (Scope) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 (S.R. 2010/9), reg. 3(d)
6C. Proceedings before the Special Immigration Appeals Commission.]N.I.
F26Sch. 1 Pt. I paras. 6B, 6C inserted (15.2.2010) by Legal Aid (Scope) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 (S.R. 2010/9), reg. 3(d)
7. Proceedings in the Enforcement of Judgments Office in connection with any proceedings mentioned in the foregoing paragraphs.N.I.
[F278. Proceedings brought by an individual before a Proscribed Organisations Appeal Commission.]N.I.
1. Proceedings in respect of which free legal aid may be given under Part III of this Order.N.I.
2. Proceedings wholly or partly in respect of—N.I.
Sub‐para. (a) rep. by 1984 NI 14
(b)the loss of the services of a woman or girl in consequence of her rape or seduction.
3. Proceedings wholly or partly in respect of defamation; but the making of a counterclaim for defamation in proceedings for which legal aid may be given shall not of itself affect any right of a defendant to the counterclaim to legal aid in the proceedings and legal aid may be granted to enable him to defend such counterclaim.N.I.
4. Relator actions.N.I.
5. Election petitions under the[F28 Representation of the People Act 1983] or the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962 [1962 c.14] .N.I.
6. Proceedings (other than proceedings referred to in paragraph 7 of Part I) for the recovery of a debt (including liquidated damages) which is admitted where the only question to be brought before the court is as to the time and mode of payment of that debt.N.I.
7. Proceedings incidental to any proceedings to which the foregoing paragraphs apply.N.I.
[F298. F30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .N.I.
F29Sch. 1 Pt. II paras. 8, 9 added (30.4.2007) by Legal Aid (Scope) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 (S.R. 2007/166), reg. 2
F30Sch. 1 Pt. II para. 8 omitted (15.2.2010) by virtue of Legal Aid (Scope) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 (S.R. 2010/9), reg. 4 (with reg. 5)
9. F31. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]N.I.
F29Sch. 1 Pt. II paras. 8, 9 added (30.4.2007) by Legal Aid (Scope) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 (S.R. 2007/166), reg. 2
F31Sch. 1 Pt. II para. 9 omitted (15.2.2010) by virtue of Legal Aid (Scope) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 (S.R. 2010/9), reg. 4 (with reg. 5)
Article 13.
1.—(1) The sums allowed to counsel in connection with proceedings in the House of Lords, the Court of Appeal or the High Court, shall be[F32 ninety‐five per cent], or such larger percentage as may be prescribed, of the amount allowed on taxation of the costs.N.I.
(2) The sums allowed to counsel in connection with proceedings in the county court shall—
(a)where the costs are taxed, be the full amount allowed on taxation of the costs;
(b)where the costs are not taxed, be such amounts as the[F33 Lord Chancellor], after consultation with the County Court Rules Committee, may by order determine.
(3) The sums allowed to counsel in connection with proceedings in courts of summary jurisdiction shall be such amounts as the[F33 Lord Chancellor], after consultation with the Magistrates' Courts Rules Committee, may by order determine.
(4) The sums allowed to counsel in any other case shall be such as may be determined in the prescribed manner.
2.—(1) The sums allowed to a solicitor in connection with proceedings in the House of Lords, the Court of Appeal or the High Court shall be the full amount allowed on taxation of the costs on account of disbursements and[F34 ninety‐five per cent], or such larger percentage as may be prescribed, of the amount so allowed on account of profit costs.N.I.
(2) The sums allowed to a solicitor in connection with proceedings in the county court shall—
(a)where the costs are taxed, be the full amount allowed on taxation of the costs;
(b)where the costs are not taxed, be such amounts as the[F35 Lord Chancellor], after consultation with the County Court Rules Committee, may by order determine.
(3) The sums allowed to solicitors in connection with proceedings in courts of summary jurisdiction shall be such amounts as the[F35 Lord Chancellor], after consultation with the Magistrates' Courts Rules Committee, may by order determine.
(4) The sums allowed to a solicitor in any other case shall be such as may be determined in the prescribed manner.
3. For the purpose of sub-paragraphs (1) and (2)( a) of paragraph 1, counsel's fees shall be taxed as if they had been paid by the solicitor, but shall not by reason thereof be treated as disbursements for the purposes of paragraph 2.N.I.
4. Subject to paragraph 3,[F36 and to any statutory provision to the contrary, costs shall be taxed for the purposes of this Schedule on the standard basis within the meaning of the Rules of the Supreme Court (Northern Ireland) 1980], but no question shall be raised as to the propriety of any act for which prior approval was obtained as required by regulations.N.I.
F36SR 1988/70
5. Regulations may provide that for the purposes of this Schedule, instead of costs being taxed in the ordinary way, the amount of the costs shall be fixed (whether by an officer of the court or not) by an assessment made without taxation but with a view to allowing as nearly as may be the same amount as on a taxation.N.I.
6. The [F37Lord Chancellor] in exercising any power under this Schedule to make an order as to the amounts of the sums allowed to counsel or a solicitor, and in making any regulations relating to such amounts for the purposes of the Schedule, and any person by whom any such amount is determined under any such order or regulations in any particular case, shall have regard [F38, among the matters which are relevant, to—N.I.
(a)the time and skill which work of the description to which the order relates, or the regulations relate, requires;
(b)the number and general level of competence of persons undertaking work of that description;
(c)the cost to public funds of any provision made by the order or regulations; and
(d)the need to secure value for money,
but nothing in this paragraph shall require him to have regard to any fees payable to solicitors and counsel otherwise than under this Schedule.]
F37SI 1982/159
F38Words in Sch. 2 para. 6 substituted (1.4.2015) by Access to Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/435), art. 1(2), Sch. 4 para. 6(4); S.R. 2015/194, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3)
7. Orders under this Schedule shall be subject to [F39negative resolution].N.I.
F39Words in Sch. 2 para. 7 substituted (12.4.2010) by Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Devolution of Policing and Justice Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/976), arts. 1(2), 15(5), Sch. 18 para. 130(4) (with arts. 28-31); S.I. 2010/977, art. 1(2)
Schedule 3—Amendments
Schedule 4—Repeals
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