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Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986

1986 c. 47 · Enacted 25 July 1986 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 32 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 30 April 2024.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 12C and cross-headinginsertedLegal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 2007 s. 70(2)
s. 4(2)(ba)insertedLegal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 2007 s. 70(1)
s. 4(2)(aba) (abb)insertedLegal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 2007 s. 75(2)
s. 17(2C)-(2I)insertedLegal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 2007 s. 75(4)
s. 10(1A) (1B)insertedLegal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 2007 s. 69(3)
s. 10(1)(b)words insertedLegal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 2007 s. 69(2)(b)
s. 4(3)(ca) (cb)insertedLegal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 2007 s. 75(3)
s. 25AC 25ADinsertedScottish Civil Justice Council and Criminal Legal Assistance Act 2013 s. 20
s. 25AA(5)-(9)insertedScottish Civil Justice Council and Criminal Legal Assistance Act 2013 s. 21
s. 9A 9BinsertedScottish Civil Justice Council and Criminal Legal Assistance Act 2013 s. 18(2)
s. 22(1)(df)insertedVictims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 sch. 5 para. 1(4)
s. 21(1)(a)(iza)insertedVictims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 sch. 5 para. 1(2)
s. 21(5)insertedVictims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 sch. 5 para. 1(3)
s. 34(2)(b)words repealedRegulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2025 sch. 3 para. 14
s. 12A(2)(d)substitutedRegulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2025 sch. 3 para. 4(2)
s. 28C(2)(b)words substitutedChildren (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Act 2026 s. 58(3)(b)
s. 28C(1)(da)insertedChildren (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Act 2026 s. 58(3)(a)
s. 28B(3)(da)insertedChildren (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Act 2026 s. 58(2)
s. 17(2)(a)words substitutedAdvice and Assistance and Civil Legal Aid (Financial Conditions and Contributions) 2011 reg. 5
s. 4(2)(abb)word substitutedLegal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 2007 (Modification and Consequential Provisions) 2011 art. 5(2)(b)
s. 17(2DA)(2DB)s. 17(2C)(2D) renumbered as s. 17(2DA)(2DB)Legal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 2007 (Modification and Consequential Provisions) 2011 art. 5(3)
s. 4(2)(aba)word substitutedLegal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 2007 (Modification and Consequential Provisions) 2011 art. 5(2)(a)
s. 33(1)words substitutedLegal Aid Act 1988 Sch. 4 para. 5
s. 17(1)words substitutedLegal Aid Act 1988 Sch. 4 para. 3(a)
s. 4(3)(b)words repealedLaw Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990 Sch. 9
s. 4(3)(c)words insertedLaw Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990 Sch. 8 para. 36(1)(b)
s. 33(3)(c)words repealedLaw Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990 Sch. 9
s. 33(3)(d)words repealedLaw Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990 Sch. 9
s. 33(6)addedLaw Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990 s. 36(4)
s. 4(3)(a)repealedLaw Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990 Sch. 8 para. 36(1)(a) Sch. 9
s. 8(b)words repealedWelfare Reform Act 2012 Sch. 14 Pt. 1
s. 11(2)(b)words repealedWelfare Reform Act 2012 Sch. 14 Pt. 1

An Act to establish the Scottish Legal Aid Board and the Scottish Legal Aid Fund; to make new provision in connection with the availability of criminal legal aid in Scotland; to repeal and re-enact with modifications certain enactments relating to legal aid and to advice and assistance in Scotland; and for connected purposes.

[25th July 1986]

C1E1C2C3C4C5C6Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—C7

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Act applied by Extradition Act 1989 (c. 33, SIF 48), 9(3)

C2

Act applied by Valuation and Rating (Scotland) Act 1956 (c. 60), s. 22 (3) (as substituted (1.4.1992) by Local Government Finance Act 1992 (c.14), ss. 99(1), 117(1), Sch. 13 para. 10; S.I. 1992/818, art. 2(a))

Act applied (1.4.1993) by Local Government Finance Act 1992 (c. 14), ss. 111 (9); S.I. 1993/575, art. 2(a)

Act applied (with modifications) (S.) (15.3.1996) by S.I. 1996/716, art. 24(2)

Act applied (1.9.2001) by 2001 c. 17, s. 6(3)(b) (with ss. 16(5), 78); S.I. 2001/2161, art. 2

C3

Act modified (7.10.1996) by S.I. 1996/2447, reg. 7(1), Sch.2

C4

Act applied (1.1.2004) by Extradition Act 2003 (c. 41), ss. 183, 221; S.I. 2003/3103, art. 2 (with arts. 3, 4 (as amended by S.I. 2003/3312))

C5

Act amended by S.I. 1978/1910, art. 10, Sch. Pt. 1 (as amended (17.5.2004) by The European Communities (Services of Lawyers) Amendment (Scotland) Order 2004 (S.S.I. 2004/186), art. 7(a))

C6

Act applied (with modifications) (1.10.2010) by The Employment and Support Allowance (Transitional Provisions, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit) (Existing Awards) (No. 2) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/1907), reg. 16, Sch. 2 (as amended by S.I. 2010/2430, regs. 15, 17) [Editorial note: these Regulations revoke and supersede S.I. 2010/875]

C7

Act applied (8.3.2018) by The United Nations (International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/187), art. 29(2) (with art. 3)

Extent

E1

Act (except s. 18(3)) extends only to Scotland, see s. 46(4)

Contents

  1. Part I: Scottish Legal Aid Board
  2. The Board
  3. 1The Scottish Legal Aid Board.
  4. 2Powers of the Board.
  5. 3Duties of the Board.
  6. The Fund
  7. 4Scottish Legal Aid Fund.
  8. 4APower of Board to make grants for certain purposes
  9. 5Accounts and audit.
  10. Part II: Advice and Assistance
  11. 6Definitions.
  12. 7Application of Part II.
  13. 8Availability of advice & assistance.
  14. 8ACriminal advice and assistance: automatic availability in certain circumstances
  15. 9Regulations may apply Part II to representation.
  16. 10Financial limit.
  17. 11Clients' contributions: general
  18. 11AClients' contributions: specified criminal assistance by way of representation
  19. 12Payment of fees or outlays otherwise than through clients’ contributions.
  20. Register of advice organisations
  21. 12ARegister of advice organisations
  22. 12BAdvice and assistance
  23. Part III: Civil Legal Aid
  24. 13Meaning of “civil legal aid”.
  25. 14Availability of civil legal aid.
  26. 15Financial conditions.
  27. Expenses
  28. 16Expenses in favour of certain assisted persons.
  29. 17Contributions, and payments out of property recovered.
  30. 18Expenses of unassisted party.
  31. 19Expenses out of the Fund.
  32. 20Provisions supplementary to sections 18 and 19.
  33. Part IV: Criminal Legal Aid
  34. 21Scope and nature of criminal legal aid.
  35. 22Automatic availability of criminal legal aid.
  36. 23Power of the court to grant legal aid.
  37. 23ALegal aid in solemn proceedings
  38. 24Legal aid in summary proceedings.
  39. 25Legal aid in appeals.
  40. 25AALegal aid in respect of appeals under section 303A of the 1995 Act.
  41. 25ABLegal aid in references, appeals or applications for special leave to appeal to the Supreme Court
  42. Part IVA: Criminal Legal Assistance
  43. Registration
  44. 25ACriminal Legal Assistance Register.
  45. Code of practice
  46. 25BCode of practice in relation to criminal legal assistance.
  47. 25CSupervision of registered solicitors and firms.
  48. Removal of name from Register
  49. 25DRemoval of name from Register following failure to comply with code.
  50. 25EFurther provision as to removal of name from Register.
  51. 25FPublication of Register.
  52. Part V: Employment of Solicitors by the Board
  53. 26Employment to which Part V applies.
  54. 27Arrangements for employment to which Part V applies.
  55. 28General provisions relating to employment to which Part V applies.
  56. 28APower of Board to employ solicitors to provide criminal assistance.
  57. Part 5A: Children's legal aid
  58. 28BChildren's legal aid
  59. 28CCircumstances where children's legal aid automatically available
  60. 28DAvailability of children's legal aid: child
  61. 28EAvailability of children's legal aid: relevant person
  62. 28FAvailability of children's legal aid: appeals relating to deemed relevant person
  63. 28GConditions
  64. 28HBoard to establish review procedures
  65. 28JBoard's power to require compliance with conditions
  66. 28KContributions to the Fund
  67. 28LPower of Scottish Ministers to extend or restrict types of proceedings before children's hearings in which children's legal aid to be available
  68. 28LAPower of Scottish Ministers to provide for children's legal aid to be available to other persons in relation to court proceedings
  69. 28LBPower of Scottish Ministers to provide for children's legal aid to be available in relation to proceedings under the Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland) Act 2019
  70. Part 5B: Children's legal assistance
  71. 28MRegister of solicitors and firms eligible to provide children's legal assistance
  72. 28NCode of practice
  73. 28PDuty to comply with code of practice
  74. 28QNon-compliance with code of practice
  75. 28RFurther provision as to removal of name from register
  76. 28SPublication of register etc.
  77. Part VI: Miscellaneous
  78. Proceedings in relation to children
  79. 29Legal aid in respect of certain proceedings relating to children. Repealed
  80. Contempt of court
  81. 30Legal aid in contempt proceedings.
  82. Solicitors and counsel
  83. 31Solicitors and counsel.
  84. 32Restriction on payment and employment of solicitor or counsel.
  85. 33Fees and outlays of solicitors and counsel.
  86. 33ZARegulations about contributions for criminal legal assistance
  87. Interim payments to solicitors and counsel
  88. 33ZBClaim for interim payment
  89. 33ZCRecovery where interim payment excessive
  90. Contracts for the provision of criminal legal assistance
  91. 33AContracts for the provision of criminal legal assistance.
  92. Contracts for the provision of children's legal assistance
  93. 33BContracts for the provision of children's legal assistance
  94. Information
  95. 34Confidentiality of information.
  96. 35False information etc.
  97. 35APower of Board to require information.
  98. 35AAInformation about legal services
  99. Power of entry
  100. 35BPower of Board to enter premises and investigate.
  101. Suspension of payments to solicitor
  102. 35CSuspension of payments to solicitor.
  103. Regulations and rules of court
  104. 36Regulations.
  105. 37Parliamentary procedure.
  106. 38Rules of court.
  107. Rights of indemnity
  108. 39Adaptation of rights to indemnity.
  109. General
  110. 40Finance.
  111. 41Interpretation.
  112. 41ARegulations in relation to criminal legal assistance.
  113. 42Disposable income and capital.
  114. 43Act not to affect certain taxations etc.
  115. 43AApplications of Act to services provided under Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990.
  116. 44Crown application.
  117. 45Amendments, transitional provisions, savings and repeals.
  118. 46Short title, commencement and extent.
  119. Schedule 1: The Scottish Legal Aid Board
  120. Incorporation and Status
  121. 1Paragraph 1
  122. 2Paragraph 2
  123. Tenure of Members
  124. 3Paragraph 3
  125. 4Paragraph 4
  126. 5Paragraph 5
  127. Remuneration of members
  128. 6Paragraph 6
  129. Staff
  130. 7Paragraph 7
  131. 8Paragraph 8
  132. 9Paragraph 9
  133. 10Paragraph 10
  134. 11Paragraph 11
  135. Proceedings
  136. 12Paragraph 12
  137. Allowances
  138. 13Paragraph 13
  139. Instruments
  140. 14Paragraph 14 Repealed
  141. Board not dominus litis
  142. 15Paragraph 15
  143. Schedule 1A: Further provision in relation to the Register of Advice organisations
  144. Register of advice organisations
  145. 1Paragraph 1
  146. Applications
  147. 2Paragraph 2
  148. Further provision on applications
  149. 3Paragraph 3
  150. Adviser code
  151. 4Paragraph 4
  152. Monitoring
  153. 5Paragraph 5
  154. Removal of name from the register of advice organisations
  155. 6Paragraph 6
  156. Appeals
  157. 7Paragraph 7
  158. Schedule 2
  159. Part I: Courts in which Civil Legal Aid is Available
  160. 1Paragraph 1
  161. 2Paragraph 2
  162. 2AProceedings before the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland
  163. 3Proceedings for judicial review before the Upper Tribunal
  164. Part II: Excepted Proceedings
  165. 1Paragraph 1
  166. 2Paragraph 2
  167. 3Paragraph 3
  168. 3AParagraph 3A
  169. 3BParagraph 3B
  170. 4Paragraph 4
  171. 5Paragraph 5
  172. Schedule 3: Minor and Consequential Amendments
  173. The Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1972 (c.18)
  174. 1Paragraph 1
  175. 2Paragraph 2
  176. The House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 (c.24)
  177. 3Paragraph 3
  178. The Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification Act 1975 (c.25)
  179. 4Paragraph 4
  180. The Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (c.65)
  181. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  182. The Race Relations Act 1976 (c.74)
  183. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  184. The Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1980 (c.46)
  185. 7Paragraph 7
  186. 8Paragraph 8
  187. The Tenants’ Rights, Etc. (Scotland) Act 1980 (c.52)
  188. 9Paragraph 9
  189. Schedule 4: Transitional Provisions and Savings
  190. The Legal Aid (Scotland) fund
  191. 1Paragraph 1
  192. Rights, obligations and property
  193. 2Paragraph 2
  194. Legal aid and advice and assistance
  195. 3Paragraph 3
  196. 4Paragraph 4
  197. Pensions
  198. 5Paragraph 5
  199. General
  200. 6Paragraph 6
  201. Schedule 5Repeals