AlphaLAW-Vantage - Legal Aid (Criminal)
The AlphaLAW-vantage Criminal Legal Aid system contains all the functions necessary to allow you to process, control, monitor and report upon all criminal legal aid work. It is generally recognised that only by using an efficient computer system that is specifically designed for criminal legal aid work will efficient and profitable case management be possible. AlphaLAW Criminal Legal Aid will produce all necessary Criminal Defence Service (CDS) forms. Due to its specially designed procedures it will enable you to comply fully with all the requirements of the CDS, particularly with respect to billing. It will assist the practitioner, during the progress of the case, in ensuring that all the required records of time, actions and expenses are simply, accurately and speedily recorded.
There are three main areas of operation within the AlphaLAW Criminal Legal Aid system - recording, billing and reporting.
Please note that the following list and descriptions are only a very brief overview of the main features and functions contained within the AlphaLAW-vantage Criminal Legal aid support system. Only by viewing and using the system can its full functionality and benefit be fully appreciated.
RECORDING
MATTER INFORMATION
A criminal legal aid matter is identified by the matter type code assigned when it is opened. Once identified as a criminal legal aid matter a separate screen form is made available that contains the extra information required by the CDS for that type of work.
Class of Work
Identification of type of work: ie Criminal Investigations, Criminal Proceedings, Appeals and Review, Prison Law and Associated CLS work.
Case End Categories
These categories (1, 2 and 3) relate to the outcome of the case in the Magistrates Court. The category relates to how much work was necessary for the solicitor to complete the case.
Unique File Number (UFN)
Required by the CDS to track each case. AlphaLAW-vantage will automatically generate a UFN as a criminal matter is created.
TIME RECORDING
Much of the AlphaLAW-vantage Criminal Legal aid system revolves around correctly recording the time that fee earners spend on the matter.
- A set of time charge tables are defined to cover the many different types of work being carried out, including London & National rates.
- Charge tables can also be defined for Advice and Assistance work on criminal matters.
- Time spent on Criminal Legal Aid matters is entered using the standard Time Recording system. Appropriate charge rates will automatically be selected based upon the type of work being undertaken by the fee earner.
ATTENDANCE NOTES
The AlphaLAW-vantage Attendance Note system contains features specific to Legal Aid work. It is used to record details of work performed, making time entries and recording expenses. There are four types of attendance notes available for Legal Aid matters are; Police Station, Court, Telephone and Other.
- Police Station - Help list for Police Station names in your area, duty solicitor, number of suspects, Police Station identification etc
- Court - Help list for Court names, Advocate, time case was called, Judge presiding, number of defendants, hearing code, Youth Court identification.
- Telephone - option to use automatic timer
- Other - General attendance details
- Expenses - Expenses entered are treated as anticipated disbursements by the system and are automatically transferred t the accounting functions.
- Diary - During the entry of an Attendance Note a diary entry can be made.
BILLING
ISSUING BILLS
A bill issued against a criminal legal aid matter is treated by AlphaLAW-vantage as a notional bill. It is stored in a separate bills file until selected for payment. Legal Aid Bills can be generated by the accounts department, fee earners or support staff.
Billing Investigation Class Matters
- Automatically produce a fully completed CDS11 form.
- Calculates Profit Costs (core costs), Travel costs, waiting costs and disbursements together with costs allocations
Billing Proceedings Class Matters
- Automatically produce a full completed CDS11 form.
- Calculates Profit Costs (core costs), Travel costs, waiting costs and disbursements together with costs allocations
- Automatically produces CDS7 if core costs exceed appropriate higher standard fee.
Billing Appeals and Review, Prison Law and Associated CLS work.
- Calculates Profit Costs (core costs), Travel costs, waiting costs and disbursements
PAYING BILLS
- Monies received from the LSC is paid into a holding account.
- Bills to be paid are selected from the list of unpaid criminal legal aid bills, amounts altered if changed by the LSC, and then posted.
- During the posting operation AlphaLAW-vantage will automatically issue a real bill and take payment by transferring the monies from the LSC holding account onto the associated matter ledger.
REPORTING
- All CDS forms can be produced via the CDS reports function. Before printing they are displayed on the screen for editing if required. Any information required on these forms that is stored within the database will appear on the form. Other information can be entered onto the form and may be stored for future use by that form.
- Forms CDS 6, CDS 11 and CDS 7 are usually produced via the billing or LSC reporting functions.
- The vantage Criminal Legal Aid system contains a very wide range of management and statistical reports. Most of these reports contain select options based, for example, upon fee earners, branches, type of work etc.