Part II Legal Aid Board and Legal Aid
3 The Legal Aid Board.
1
There shall be established a body to be known as the Legal Aid Board (in this Act referred to as “the Board ”).
2
Subject to subsections (3) and (4) below, the Board shall have the general function of securing that advice, assistance and representation are available in accordance with this Act and of administering this Act.
3
Subsection (2) above does not confer on the Board any functions with respect to the grant of representation under Part VI for the purposes of proceedings for contempt.
4
Subsection (2) above does not confer on the Board any of the following functions unless the Lord Chancellor so directs by order and then only to the extent specified in the order.
The functions referred to are—
a
determination of the costs of representation under Part IV;
b
functions as respects representation under Part V other than determination of the costs of representation for the purposes of proceedings in magistrates’ courts;
F1c
functions as respects representation under Part VI for the purposes of care proceedings other than proceedings on an appeal from the decision of a juvenile court to the High Court;
d
determination of the financial resources of persons for the purposes of this Act.
5
Subject to subsection (6) below, the Board shall consist of no fewer than 11 and no more than 17 members appointed by the Lord Chancellor; and the Lord Chancellor shall appoint one of the members to be chairman.
6
The Lord Chancellor may, by order, substitute, for the number for the time being specified in subsection (5) above as the maximum or minimum membership of the Board, such other number as he thinks appropriate.
7
The Board shall include at least two solicitors appointed after consultation with the Law Society.
8
The Lord Chancellor shall consult the General Council of the Bar with a view to the inclusion on the Board of at least two barristers.
9
In appointing persons to be members of the Board the Lord Chancellor shall have regard to the desirability of securing that the Board includes persons having expertise in or knowledge of—
a
the provision of legal services;
b
the work of the courts and social conditions; and
c
management.
10
Schedule 1 to this Act shall have effect with respect to the Board.