Solicitors may now apply countrywide to legal-aid panels, under a single process, as a streamlined process is rolled out.

“The current cumbersome process” of having to apply separately in each individual county to be placed on the Legal Aid Panel is being axed by the Courts Service.

It will be replaced later this year with a new process, which will allow solicitors to apply once for all the counties on whose panels they wish to be placed. 

From this month, offices will no longer have to set up and maintain the legal-aid panels for their county, making it easier for solicitors to register.

Solicitors will be able to apply to be placed on panels in any county using a single form, which will be processed by the centralised office in Castlebar, Co Mayo.

The centralised office will generate the legal-aid panels for all counties, and will provide regular updates to the county registrar in each county.

Updated panels

The updated panels will be forwarded to Department of Justice to allow for payments to be processed. 

Any queries in relation to the panels from that date should be directed to the new email address: legalaidpanel@courts.ie. 

Queries in relation to legal certificates and appearances will continue to be dealt with by the local court office dealing with a particular case.

Queries in relation to payments will continue to be a matter for the National Shared Services Office in Killarney, Co Kerry.