The Legal Aid Agency appear to be finding more reasons to reject claims than ever before and following client feedback and our research we at Sterling are doing all we can to stop any unnecessary rejections by ensuring that the following are contained within the Bundle for Assessment:
· We include a numbered Disbursement Report that mirrors all the disbursement vouchers, these need to be the actual vouchers and not just a POA1 for example;
· Each voucher should contain a breakdown of work undertaken (including time spent), hourly rates and client details;
· The vouchers should also contain official headings and the client’s name linking them to the case and, where applicable, claimed in accordance with codified expert rates;
· We also include all attendance notes that show any travel and parking fees (over £20 inc. VAT), or a print out of the client’s ledger;
· Any Court Orders that show that drug testing has been ordered;
· Proof that the Court fee has been paid, either by the letter sending the Court fee or a copy of the ledger.
Hopefully by following this guidance the rate of rejections will fall and the Legal Aid Agency will have more time for offering guidance...or even answering the telephone!
I am a Practice Manager of a long established firm of Legal Costs Consultants in Cheshire.
Expertise
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