These Regulations amend the Legal Advice and Assistance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1981 by inserting new provisions to:

• abolish the means test and contributions conditions which would otherwise apply in respect of applications for advice and assistance and assistance by way of representation for persons regarding proceedings before the Mental Health Review Tribunal (regulations 5 and 6(a));

• extend assistance by way of representation to certain proceedings before the Care Tribunal, and proceedings under Article 31B of the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (regulations 6(c) and 10);

• provide a facility for the making of interim payments to solicitors in respect of disbursements (regulation 8); and

• amend the provision regarding the contribution payable by a person applying for a non-molestation order under the Family Homes and Domestic Violence (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 (regulation 9).