Launch of the LAA 2025 Crime Contract Tender

Launch of the LAA 2025 Crime Contract Tender

Important Information and Deadlines

The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) has officially launched the 2025 Crime Contract tender. This new contract has the potential to last for up to 10 years, marking a significant opportunity for existing and new crime firms.

Application Deadline

The deadline for the submission of what the LAA has somewhat confusingly named a Stage 1 Application is set for 11:59 PM on 22nd October 2024.

Eligibility and Requirements

Existing crime firms, if they wish to maintain continuity of their contract and be included in the first Duty Rota, must apply under Stage 1.

In terms of staffing requirements, firms are still required to have a Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) Crime Supervisor. Additionally, the LAA has published a new Crime and a new Prison Law Supervisor Declaration, accessible via their website here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/crime-contract-2025-tender

Supervisor Ratios

For Crime, the maximum number of offices that each Supervisor can oversee is 2. Although the Crime Contract seems to have removed the previous ratio of 1 Supervisor to 4 Fee Earners, the 1 to 6 ratio remains applicable for Prison Law. We will have to see what the FAQ say about this in terms of clarification, when they are published.

Time Limits

The various key dates pertinent to the tender process are detailed in the following table:

Summary of Stages

It is imperative that all interested firms adhere to the deadlines and requirements to ensure their participation in the 2025 Crime Contract. For further information and detailed guidelines, please refer to the LAA’s Application Guide (used to be called IFA) already in version 3.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/crime-contract-2025-tender

Unless Stage 1 applicants mess up their tender or Duty Slots (e.g. they have not used correct post code) – ALL FIRMS should use the LAA Post Code Tool- then they are unlikely to be bothered with STAGE 2 or STAGE 3 applications.

Adding new offices later

Those firms wanting to expand to new locations and additional offices will not have to retender.

6.3 Where an existing 2025 Crime Contract holder wishes to add a further Office(s) or an additional Class of Work after their 2025 Crime Contract has commenced, they will be able to send the request through the crime.contracts@justice.gov.uk email address. There is no requirement to submit another Tender through the e-Tendering System.