Legal Aid Civil - Mediation - Creating a New Legal Aid Matter

05/08/2025
Knowledge

How To

To open a new legal aid Mediation matter, complete the following steps.

Click New Matter.
Select Mediation from the matter types list, and enter a Description for the matter.
Click OK.
Enter the relevant Staff details.
Navigate to the Accounting tab and select Legal Aid from the Billing Mode drop-down menu.
Click OK, and assign a client.
Enter details about your client. Date of Birth is required for legal aid reporting.
Navigate to the Additional Fields tab to enter Disability, Ethnicity, UCN, if applicable.
Click Address within the left side panel, enter the address details, and click Save & Close.
Click Save & Close.

Click to edit heading

If mediation is taking place and both parties are going to be in attending together you will need to add a second applicant to the matter.
Right-click over the Applicant in the card list and select ‘New Applicant’.

Click to edit heading

Complete any additional information within the People, Custom tab for this applicant.
To enter the relevant legal aid details, click on the Legal Aid Details button, from the Details & Correspondence.
Complete the required fields and click Save & Close.

Mediation Matter Details

Ensure the matter is assigned to the correct Branch, enter the Date Opened, select the Mediation Type, Eligible Client 1 and Client, if applicable, and enter the Schedule Reference.

Field

Description

Branch

If your firm has multiple branches, select the branch that will be responsible for this matter

Date Opened

Date of initial attendance/first instruction on your client.

UFN

Unique File Number. Made up of the date opened and 3-digit case ID.

This will uniquely identify a legal aid case (when combined with LAA office account number), DDMMYY/NNN

Rate

Defines if the claims will be costed at London or National hourly rates, and fixed fee

Mediation Type

Define if Assessment or Mediation

Code	Levels
	For Assessment
ASSA	Assessment Alone
ASSS	Assessment Separate
ASST	Assessment Together
	For Mediation
MDAC	All Issues Co
MDAS	All Issues Sole
MDCC	Child Only Co
MDCS	Child Only Sole
MDPC	Property & Finance Co
MDPS	Property & Finance Sole

Eligible

(Client 1 / Client 2)

Tick to confirm if the client(s) is eligible for legal aid

Schedule Reference

The firms Mediation Schedule Number, as specified by the Legal Aid Agency, at the time that this matter was opened

Last Modified Date

5/08/2025 12:55 am

Title

Legal Aid Civil - Mediation - Creating a New Legal Aid Matter

URL Name

Legal-Aid-Civil-Mediation-Creating-a-New-Legal-Aid-Matter

Resolution