3.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), nothing in the provisions commenced by this Order shall take effect in relation to any of the following—
(a)except where paragraph (b) applies, advice and assistance under Part 2 of the 1981 Order where the application is signed before 1st April 2015;
(b)assistance by way of representation under Part 2 of the 1981 Order where the application is signed before 1st April 2015 and received by the Department before 1st May 2015;
(c)legal aid under Part 2 of the 1981 Order where the application is signed before 1st April 2015 and received by the Department before 1st May 2015;
(d)exceptional legal aid under Part 2 of the 1981 Order where the application is signed before 1st April 2015 and received by the Department before 1st May 2015;
(e)free legal aid under Part 3 of the 1981 Order in relation to criminal proceedings.
(2) Any reference to the Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission in any statutory provision made, or treated as made, under the 1981 Order, in so far as it remains in operation, shall be construed as a reference to the Department.
(3) Without prejudice to paragraph (1), the repeal of Articles 22 and 27 of the 1981 Order shall not affect the power under that Order to make regulations in relation to any of the services mentioned in paragraph (1)(a) to (d).