CONCLUDED AND OTHER PROJECTS
Impact of Debt Advice
The Impact of Debt Advice Project has been aimed at establishing the social, economic and health impact of advice interventions for people facing debt problems. It has employed a variety of methodologies. The first involved an economic analysis of data derived from the English and Welsh Civil and Social Justice Survey. The second involved a qualitative follow-up of survey respondents identified as having had a debt problem. The third involved a random control trial (RCT), a hitherto untested methodology in this context. Full methodological details of the RCT, in CONSORT format, can be downloaded here. Details of most of the project findings are set out on the publications page. Detailed RCT findings were published in November 2007.
Legal Services Workforce
The Legal Services Workforce Project involves the analysis of data collected through the Workforce Survey, and follow-ups, being conducted as part of the National Occupational Standards Project being managed by the Legal Services Commission. Details of project publications are set out on the publications page.
Means Assessment
The Means Assessment Project has involved a number of phases since its commencement. It has been conducted in collaboration with the Institute for Fiscal Studies. A range of potential means assessment criteria for use in relation to civil legal aid were developed and impact-tested using statistical models. This led to the introduction of new means tests for civil legal help and representation in December 2001. The project then involved monitoring the impact of the new tests. In the most recent phases the project has examined various options for means testing in relation to criminal legal aid and the capital elements of means tests. Details of project publications are set out on the publications page.
Annual Telephone Survey of Civil Justice Problems
The Annual Telephone Survey of Civil Justice Problems was a short version of the English and Welsh Civil and Social Justice Survey conducted via the telephone. It provided annual figures for Department of Constitutional Affairs PSA targets. It was last conducted over the winter of 2004/5. Annual figures for PSA targets will in future be available from the continuous English and Welsh Civil and Social Justice Survey.
Legal Aid Family Practice
The Legal Aid Family Practice Project involved a follow-up to the Family Case Profiling Project which reported in 1998. The follow-up has sought to establish whether the profile of legal aid certificated private law family casees has changed over the past decade. Data was collected from case files, administrative data systems and through in-depth interviews with practitioners and Legal Serives Commission staff. Details of project publications are set out on the publications page.
Problem Noticing and Referrals
The Problem Noticing and Referrals Project involved a review of the use made of the paper copy of the Community Legal Service directory and its cost effectiveness. This led to the curtailment of the paper directory. It also involved a review of evidence relating to problem noticers (non-legally trained persons or organisations having regular contact with individuals experiencing justiciable problems) and their role in the civil justice dispute resolution process.
CLAF Feasibility for Northern Ireland
The CLAF Feasibility Study was undertaken for the Northern Ireland Advisory Committee on Legal Aid. The aim of the project was to ascertain the feasibility of different forms of CLAF scheme in the Northern Ireland context. The project also sought to identify the principal lessons arising from the introduction of conditional fees in England and Wales. The study was conducted in collaboration with Professor Roger Bowles, University of York and Pamela Abrams, University of Westminster.
Legal Aid Criminal Practice
The Legal Aid Criminal Practice Project has included the Criminal Case Profiling Project, which involved an inquiry into the working practices and structure of solicitors' firms engaged in criminal defence work. It included both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, and provided, for the first time, a detailed breakdown of the costs associated with criminal defence work from the outset to the conclusion of criminal cases. The project report, published in 2001, includes a comprehensive description of current criminal practice, sets out the cost profile of criminal cases of different descriptions, and sets out the findings of analyses aimed at identifying the principal criminal case cost drivers. Elements of the data collection and analysis were conducted by the Law Society, Professor Paul Fenn, University of Nottingham, Neil Rickman, Surrey University, and Alastair Gray, Oxford University.
Local Legal Need
The Local Legal Need Project involved a review of current strategy, methods and tools for assessing 'legal need' within the Community Legal Service and Community Legal Service Partnerships and made recommendations as to future developments. Particular areas of inquiry included the use and development of predictive legal need models and local methods for determining levels of absolute need. The final report was published in January 2001. Details are set out on the publications page. The report included an analysis of the models developed over the past decade by the Legal Service Commission (LSC), an introduction to the use of empirical research methods, and a model legal need survey instrument. The Local Legal Need Research Project was a collaborative project involving Professor Hazel Genn, University College London, Professor Alan Paterson, University of Strathclyde, Professor Richard Moorhead, Cardiff University, Tamara Goriely, Professor Lee Bridges, Warwick University, and Professor Gwynn Davis, University of Bristol.
Funding Code
The Funding Code Project informed the development of the civil legal aid Funding Code and assessed its likely impact. The Funding Code replaced the merits test for Legal Representation with a new and flexible set of rules to determine which individual cases should receive public funding. A preliminary study was undertaken in late 1998. The final report was published in 1999. Details are set out on the publications page.
Defining the Public Interest
The Defining the Public Interest Project informed the development of the civil legal aid funding code. It examined the political and philosophical underpinnings of competing definitions of the public interest and brought together a range of practical approaches to measuring it. The final briefing was published in 1999. Details are set out on the publications page.
Legal Aid Personal Injury Practice
The Legal Aid Personal Injury Practice Project included the Personal Injury Case Profiling Project. This examined the nature and conduct of legal aid personal injury cases and developed cost driver models. A final report was published in 1998. An interim report, setting out the methodology and reviewing the international literature, was published in 1997. Details are set out on the publications page.
Impact of Debt Advice
The Impact of Debt Advice Project has been aimed at establishing the social, economic and health impact of advice interventions for people facing debt problems. It has employed a variety of methodologies. The first involved an economic analysis of data derived from the English and Welsh Civil and Social Justice Survey. The second involved a qualitative follow-
Legal Services Workforce
The Legal Services Workforce Project involves the analysis of data collected through the Workforce Survey, and follow-
Means Assessment
The Means Assessment Project has involved a number of phases since its commencement. It has been conducted in collaboration with the Institute for Fiscal Studies. A range of potential means assessment criteria for use in relation to civil legal aid were developed and impact-
Annual Telephone Survey of Civil Justice Problems
The Annual Telephone Survey of Civil Justice Problems was a short version of the English and Welsh Civil and Social Justice Survey conducted via the telephone. It provided annual figures for Department of Constitutional Affairs PSA targets. It was last conducted over the winter of 2004/5. Annual figures for PSA targets will in future be available from the continuous English and Welsh Civil and Social Justice Survey.
Legal Aid Family Practice
The Legal Aid Family Practice Project involved a follow-
Problem Noticing and Referrals
The Problem Noticing and Referrals Project involved a review of the use made of the paper copy of the Community Legal Service directory and its cost effectiveness. This led to the curtailment of the paper directory. It also involved a review of evidence relating to problem noticers (non-
CLAF Feasibility for Northern Ireland
The CLAF Feasibility Study was undertaken for the Northern Ireland Advisory Committee on Legal Aid. The aim of the project was to ascertain the feasibility of different forms of CLAF scheme in the Northern Ireland context. The project also sought to identify the principal lessons arising from the introduction of conditional fees in England and Wales. The study was conducted in collaboration with Professor Roger Bowles, University of York and Pamela Abrams, University of Westminster.
Legal Aid Criminal Practice
The Legal Aid Criminal Practice Project has included the Criminal Case Profiling Project, which involved an inquiry into the working practices and structure of solicitors' firms engaged in criminal defence work. It included both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, and provided, for the first time, a detailed breakdown of the costs associated with criminal defence work from the outset to the conclusion of criminal cases. The project report, published in 2001, includes a comprehensive description of current criminal practice, sets out the cost profile of criminal cases of different descriptions, and sets out the findings of analyses aimed at identifying the principal criminal case cost drivers. Elements of the data collection and analysis were conducted by the Law Society, Professor Paul Fenn, University of Nottingham, Neil Rickman, Surrey University, and Alastair Gray, Oxford University.
Local Legal Need
The Local Legal Need Project involved a review of current strategy, methods and tools for assessing 'legal need' within the Community Legal Service and Community Legal Service Partnerships and made recommendations as to future developments. Particular areas of inquiry included the use and development of predictive legal need models and local methods for determining levels of absolute need. The final report was published in January 2001. Details are set out on the publications page. The report included an analysis of the models developed over the past decade by the Legal Service Commission (LSC), an introduction to the use of empirical research methods, and a model legal need survey instrument. The Local Legal Need Research Project was a collaborative project involving Professor Hazel Genn, University College London, Professor Alan Paterson, University of Strathclyde, Professor Richard Moorhead, Cardiff University, Tamara Goriely, Professor Lee Bridges, Warwick University, and Professor Gwynn Davis, University of Bristol.
Funding Code
The Funding Code Project informed the development of the civil legal aid Funding Code and assessed its likely impact. The Funding Code replaced the merits test for Legal Representation with a new and flexible set of rules to determine which individual cases should receive public funding. A preliminary study was undertaken in late 1998. The final report was published in 1999. Details are set out on the publications page.
Defining the Public Interest
The Defining the Public Interest Project informed the development of the civil legal aid funding code. It examined the political and philosophical underpinnings of competing definitions of the public interest and brought together a range of practical approaches to measuring it. The final briefing was published in 1999. Details are set out on the publications page.
Legal Aid Personal Injury Practice
The Legal Aid Personal Injury Practice Project included the Personal Injury Case Profiling Project. This examined the nature and conduct of legal aid personal injury cases and developed cost driver models. A final report was published in 1998. An interim report, setting out the methodology and reviewing the international literature, was published in 1997. Details are set out on the publications page.
