The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) has made amendments to the tables of Delegated Authorities in relation to cases under the Child Focused Model (previously known as Private Law Pathfinder).
From 15th July, an interim measure will allow family providers to delegate the grant of legal representation exclusively for Child Focused Model cases. This applies where a decision to grant legal representation has already been made up to Family Help (Higher).
When recording the CCMS amendment for these cases, the LAA advises providers to include a reference to the case being a Child Focused Model case in the statement of case, and record the use of delegated functions.
The tables of Delegated Authorities (Merits Criteria Regulations) will be updated to support this interim measure.
There is no fixed end date for the interim measure, and a longer-term solution will be developed in due course.
Further information is available in Practice Direction 36Z.
