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CCMS provider: creating an initial application

Exceptional Cases Funding: Fact Sheet

Important distinctions between ‘in-scope’ and ECF Funding

  • No option to delegate functions to make decisions.
  • There is no emergency procedure – the ECF Team will though consider representations on urgent applications. Marking the case as ‘urgent’ in the system is however not sufficient, you will need to contact the ECF Team, and we will need to agree that the case is urgent before it is prioritised.
  • Please be vigilant when submitting new applications or amendments in CCMS. Selecting that a case is ‘exceptional’ does not mean that the case is urgent/important. All this means is that you have told the CCMS system that all or part of the case is out of scope of the LASPO Act and therefore the ECF Team need to deal with the application. Failure to input the case correctly will delay the application as it will either need to be rejected back to you to amend or sent to another part of the business for consideration.

Submitting Applications

  • We cannot accept ‘blended’ applications, i.e. applications for both in and out of scope work. They will need to be submitted separately into the system.

Hints & Tips

  • We cannot consider the application until any documents that have been requested by the system are uploaded. When you upload documents, please ensure you set the status to ‘documents sent’ as failure to do so will delay the consideration of your application.
  • Please ensure that all supporting documentation that you wish us to consider is provided with the initial application. This may delay your application if we have to request routine documents.
  • Applications for amendment to existing ECF Certificates can be multiple amendments i.e. you can submit a combined amendment for costs/scope/form of service/prior authority. If you have a number of amendments it is better that they are submitted on the one request.
  • The provider packs for inquest and non-inquest cases are a useful starting point before making the application, please see:

Contacting the ECF Team

Please email the team at ContactECC@legalaid.gsi.gov.uk

Time Standards

  • Cases the ECF Team agree are urgent – 10 Working days
  • Amendments – 25 Working days
  • Applications – 25 Working days
  • Reviews – 25 Working days