When to use Civil Application Fixer, Civil Contingency Fixer, Civil Claim Fix, and High Cost Family Fixer (Back to top)
Legal aid providers can use these services depending on whether the issue is with a civil legal aid application, issues with work granted under contingency, bill, or high cost family case. We also use submissions to feedback to caseworkers and improve decision making.
Civil Application Fixer (Back to top)
The Civil Application Fixer service covers applications in all areas of civil legal aid.
This includes:
- Merits Decisions
- Means Decisions
- Prior Authority Decisions
- Exceptional and Complex Cases Team including Exceptional Case Funding (ECF)
- Please use the following link
You must:
Provide the case reference.
Provide details of why you believe an issue has been made with any supporting evidence.
Examples
Use Civil Application Fixer for the initial decision made by the LAA if you believe we have:
- incorrectly rejected or refused
- not considered the information provided
- asked for documents or information already provided
- granted an incorrect cost limitation
We will only review the decision based on the information submitted originally. You must submit an appeal if you wish to provide new information.
Please note the email address applicationfixer@justice.gov.uk is no longer applicable from the 26/01/2026. Please use the above link.
Response times
We aim to review submissions and rectify any issues at the earliest opportunity.
If we believe, based on the information provided, the decision was correct, we will ask you to follow the appeal and review route for challenging a decision.
Civil Contingency Fixer (Back to top)
The Civil Contingency Fixer service covers issues related to work granted under contingency, this includes:
- Merits Decisions
- Means Decisions
- Prior Authority Decisions
- Exceptional and Complex Cases Team including Exceptional Case Funding (ECF)
- Please use the following link
You must:
Provide the contingency case reference.
Provide details of why you believe an issue has been made with any supporting evidence.
Examples
Use Civil Contingency Fixer if you believe:
- The coverage granted differs from notification received via contingency and via CCMS
- You need to submit an amendment but have not received a certificate via CCMS or you have not received a certificate via CCMS and need an update urgently.
- Proceedings/Limitations are incorrect
- Proceedings/Limitations are missing
- Provider/Office Details are incorrect
- Opponent/Client Details are incorrect
- Incorrect Issue/Discharge date
Response times
We aim to review submissions and rectify any issues at the earliest opportunity.
Civil Claim Fix (Back to top)
The Civil Claim Fix service covers civil legal aid claims in the following areas:
- certificated work, including high cost family cases
- Family Advocacy Scheme (FAS) and hourly rates claims made by counsel
- legal help and escape cases
- Civil Case Outcomes, including reporting any cost award or Statutory Charge to us
Email address: LAACivilClaimFix@justice.gov.uk.
You must:
Provide the case reference.
Provide details of why you believe an issue has been made with any supporting evidence.
Examples
Use Civil Claim Fix if you believe we have:
- incorrectly rejected a civil claim or outcome
- asked for documents or information already provided
- asked for unnecessary information
Response times
We aim to review submissions within 24 hours (Monday to Friday). We will then rectify any errors at the earliest opportunity.
High Cost Family Fixer (Back to top)
The High Cost Family Fixer service covers high cost family case contracts only. It does not cover the billing of high cost family cases as Civil Claim Fix applies to those.
Email address: highcostfamilyfixer@justice.gov.uk.
You must:
Provide the case reference.
Confirm whether the case involves single Counsel or two Counsel / Kings Counsel.
Confirm whether the case falls under the Care Case Fee Scheme or hourly rates.
Confirm you have not been able to resolve the issue with the High Cost Family Team.
Provide details of why you believe an issue has been made with any supporting evidence.
This email address also replaces familyhighcostcounsel@justice.gov.uk.
Examples
Providers may use the High Cost Family Fixer if they believe we have:
- Incorrectly rejected or reduced a case plan.
- Not considered the information provided.
- Asked for documents or information already provided.
- Granted the incorrect cost limitation.
- Historic cases with complex, lengthy and unresolved case planning issues, including concluded cases.
Providers may also use it for
- Intervened cases (cases with multiple providers where one firm may have ceased to exist).
- Cases where you have made multiple contacts to us with no response.
- Cases facing recoupment by the Unrecouped Payment on Account team, when the provider is awaiting a response from the High Cost Family team.
- Where there has been a change in provider, and this has complicated matters.
Counsel may use the High Cost Family Fixer for issues such as
- Not receiving communications from your instructing solicitor.
- Intervened cases (cases with multiple providers where one firm may have ceased to exist).
- Rate enquiries.
- Outstanding or incorrect fees on completed high cost family cases.
- You cannot use High Cost Family Fixer to dispute independent adjudicator decisions.
Response times
We aim to review submissions within 72 hours (Monday to Friday). We will then rectify any errors at the earliest opportunity.