Progress & next steps

Please note, every effort will be made to keep this page updated in terms of actions and dates, including any changes to the schedule.

Legal Aid Review - Progress to date
September 2018	The Public Defender Scheme project began. Project Manager appointed to the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC). Research on Criminal Legal Aid provision in Crown Dependencies began.
October 2018	Initial engagement with the IoM Law Society and Legal Aid Committee. AGC visits to Guernsey, Jersey and England. Scope of project extended to encompass Criminal Legal Aid as a whole. Research on Criminal Legal Aid provision in IoM and UK began.
January 2019	Scope of project extended further to include Civil and Family Legal Aid to encompass all Legal Aid in the IoM. Statement made at the January 2019 sitting of Tynwald by the Treasury Minister to reflect expansion of scope. The project become the Legal Aid Review with the broad aim to develop policy options for the sustainable provision of Legal Aid in the IoM which maintain or improve access to justice; support the delivery of quality services and provide value for money.
February 2019	AGC visit to Scotland. Ongoing Legal Aid research re: IoM and comparator jurisdictions. Ongoing engagement with the IoM Law Society.
March / April 2019	Preparations for Criminal Legal Aid workshops and public consultation.
May 2019	Criminal Legal Aid workshops held for members of IoM Law Society.
June 2019	Further engagement with Criminal Legal Aid stakeholders.
July / August 2019	Criminal Legal Aid public consultation drafted.
September 2019	8-week Criminal Legal Aid public consultation launched (23 Sept). Criminal Legal Aid workshop held with members of the IoM Constabulary.
October 2019	Further engagement with Criminal Legal Aid stakeholders, including the IoM Prison. Engagement with IoM Law Society re: Civil Legal Aid workshops & consultation.
November / December 2019	Criminal Legal Aid workshops held at IoM Prison with participating prisoners. Criminal Legal Aid consultation closed (21 Nov). Civil Legal Aid workshops held with members of IoM Law Society.
December / January 2020	Civil Legal Aid consultation drafted.
February 2020	8-week Civil Legal Aid consultation launched (17 Feb).
March 2020	Examination and analysis of Criminal Legal Aid consultation responses.
May 2020	Civil Legal Aid consultation closed after 13 weeks (21 May). N.B The consultation was due to close on 13 April but was extended twice by the Attorney General’s Chambers following requests from the IoM Law Society. The Society was concerned that the effects of the coronavirus pandemic could have a detrimental impact on its members’ ability to respond to the consultation.
May / June 2020	Preparation of Criminal Legal Aid Consultation: Results & Analysis Report.
June / July 2020	Proposal made by HM Attorney General (HMAG) to the Legal Aid Committee to publish Criminal and Civil Legal Aid consultation responses and associated Results & Analysis Reports in parallel, following the submission of an Options & Recommendations Report to the Legal Aid Committee by HMAG and the outcome of the Committee’s considerations. Proposal agreed by the Legal Aid Committee. Isle of Man Law Society advised of agreed proposals.
July - September 2020	Examination of Civil Legal Aid consultation responses. Preparation of Civil Legal Aid Consultation: Results & Analysis Report
October 2020	Submission of two reports from the Attorney General's Chambers,  to the Legal Aid Committee Criminal Legal Aid Consultation - Results & Analysis Report Civil Legal Aid Consultation - Results & Analysis Report
Next steps
Spring 2021 (date tbc)	Following a review of both Results & Analysis Reports, stakeholder feedback and comparator jurisdiction models, HMAG to draft options and recommendations relating to Criminal and Civil Legal Aid, for consideration and decision by the Legal Aid Committee.Subject to completion of the above, the following will be published:   Criminal Legal Aid and Civil Legal Aid consultation responses (subject to respondents’ permissions) via IoM Government online consultation hub https://consult.gov.im/ Criminal Legal Aid consultation: Results & Analysis Report Civil Legal Aid consultation: Results & Analysis Report    Legal Aid Review: Options & Recommendations Report  Outcome of the Legal Aid Committee's consideration of HMAG’s Options & Recommendations Report N.B. The Legal Aid Committee remains statutorily responsible for Legal Aid policy by virtue of s23(6)(a) of the Legal Aid Act 1986.