2023 No. 150
The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (Legal Aid: Family and Domestic Abuse) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2023
Made
Coming into force in accordance with article 3
The Lord Chancellor makes this Order in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 9(2), 11(1), 12(2), 12(3)(e), 12(3)(g), 14(h), 21(2)(b), 41(1)(a), 41(2)(b) and 41(3)(c) of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 20121.
In making articles 4 to 7 of this Order, in accordance with section 11(2) to (5) of that Act, the Lord Chancellor—
has considered the circumstances in which it is appropriate to make civil legal services available under Part 1 of the Act and, in particular, the extent to which the criteria ought to reflect the factors set out in section 11(3) of the Act;
has sought to secure that, in cases in which more than one form of civil legal service could be provided for an individual, the individual qualifies under Part 1 of the Act for the form of service which in all the circumstances is the most appropriate having regard to the criteria; and
is satisfied that the criteria reflect the principle that, in many disputes, mediation and other forms of dispute resolution are more appropriate than legal proceedings.
A draft of this Order was laid before Parliament in accordance with section 41(6) of the Act and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.