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.

Progress to date
September 2018
  • The 'Public Defender Scheme' project began
  • Project Manager appointed to the Attorney General's Chambers
  • Research on Criminal Legal Aid provision in Crown Dependencies began
October 2018
  • Initial engagement with the IoM Law Society & Legal Aid Committee
  • Visits to Guernsey, Jersey & Law Society of Jersey
  • Scope of project extended to encompass Criminal Legal Aid as a whole
  • Research on Criminal Legal Aid provision in IoM & UK began
January 2019
  • Scope of project extended further to include Civil & Family Legal Aid
  • Statement made in Tynwald by the Treasury Minister
  • Project became the 'Legal Aid Review'
February 2019
  • Visit to Scottish Legal Aid Board and Law Society of Scotland
  • Ongoing Legal Aid research re: IoM & comparator jurisdictions
  • Ongoing engagement with the IoM Law Society
April 2019
  • IoM Law Society members invited to attend Criminal Legal Aid workshops in May
  • Preparations for Criminal Legal Aid workshops & consultation began
May 2019
  • Criminal Legal Aid workshops were held for members of IoM Law Society
June 2019

  • Further engagement with Criminal Legal Aid stakeholders
July / August 2019

  • Criminal Legal Aid consultation drafted
September 2019
  • 8-week Criminal Legal Aid consultation launched
  • Criminal Legal Aid workshop held with IoM Constabulary
October 2019
  • Further engagement with Criminal Legal Aid stakeholders
  • Engagement with IoM Law Society re: Civil Legal Aid workshops & consultation
November / December 2019
  • Criminal Legal Aid workshop held at IoM Prison
  • 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 (21 May)
    N.B The consultation was due to close on 13 April but was extended twice following requests by the IoM Law Society due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
May / June 2020
  • Preparation of: Criminal Legal Aid consultation: Results and Analysis Report
June / July 2020
  • Proposal made by HM Attorney General (HMAG) to the Legal Aid Committee to publish Criminal and Civil consultation responses and associated Results and Analysis Reports in parallel, following the submission of an Options and Recommendations Report to the Legal Aid Committee, and the outcome of the Committee’s considerations
  • Proposal agreed by the Legal Aid Committee
Next steps
July / August 2020 
  • Examination of Civil Legal Aid consultation responses 
  • Preparation of: Civil Legal Aid consultation: Results and Analysis Report
August 2020
  • HMAG to consider the Results and Analysis Reports for both Criminal and Civil Legal Aid consultations in parallel, with associated consultation submissions. 
  • If deemed appropriate on the basis of the Results and Analysis Reports, HMAG to prepare an Options and Recommendations Report for submission to the Legal Aid Committee 

N.B. The Legal Aid Committee remains statutorily responsible for Legal Aid policy.
September / October 2020
  • Legal Aid Committee to consider HM Attorney General’s Options and Recommendations Report
  • Publication of Criminal Legal Aid consultation responses (subject to respondents’ permissions) and Criminal Legal Aid consultation: Results and Analysis Report
  • Publication of Civil Legal Aid consultation responses (subject to respondents’ permissions) and Civil Legal Aid consultation: Results and Analysis Report 
  • Publication of HMAG’s Options and Recommendations Report  to the Legal Aid Committee 
  • Outcome of the Legal Aid Committee’s consideration of the HM Attorney General’s Report.