Legal Aid Exceptional Case Funding (ECF) Training

PLP is offering live, online skills-based workshops training people to make Legal Aid Exceptional Case Funding. All sessions will be recorded and available to delegates post-event.

PLEASE NOTE: This training is included in the ticket for PLP’s Costs and Funding event.  If you have booked for Funding, or Costs and Funding, you do not need to book another ticket for this training.

Who should attend?

• Any lawyer, paralegal, adviser, advocate or law student making, or intending to make,  ECF applications on behalf of clients, whether as part of a clinic, pro bono scheme, or in a legal practice setting.
• Legal aid lawyers whose clients are currently out of legal aid scope, but meet the legal aid means test and may fit the criteria of ECF.

Learning outcomes/Why should I attend?

• Understand the history of the legal Aid Exceptional Case Funding scheme
• The basics of eligibility, practicalities of making an application, common pitfalls and what to do if an application is refused.
• Specialist workshops on benefits and housing, immigration, family law and SEND / Education

As well as offering the ECF course on its own it is available as part of a two-week programme on costs and funding.

Thursday 3rd February

10.30 – 12.00 Legal aid Exceptional Case Funding: Background and development
Katy will introduce the scheme and its history, including the litigation and innovation that has led to its ‘opening up’.  She will also look at the basic parameters of applications, including eligibility and the basics of rights breaches.  Richard and Emma will also talk about making ECF applications in clinical environments, with Emma drawing on her extensive research in legal aid and advice  provision.  We encourage those attending the specialised sessions that follow to attend this introductory session first.
Katy Watts, Liberty
Prof Richard Owen, Swansea University
Chair: Dr Emma Marshall, University of Exeter

14:00-15:30: ECF in family law cases

The session will set out how to apply for ECF for representation in family law proceedings. Lisa and / or Shah will take you through an application for ECF in private family law, specifically relating to an application under Section 8 of the Children Act 1989, using a recent successful application (redacted) as an example.
Shah Begum and Lisa Okoroafor, Legal Advice Centre, University House

Friday 4th February

10:00-11:30: ECF for immigration cases
A practical guide on how to apply for Exceptional Case Funding in immigration cases.
Chair: Bojana Asanovic, Garden Court Chambers
Siobhan Foulner, Wilson LLP

12:00-13:30: ECF for welfare benefits
Simon will take you through making an ECF application for welfare benefits cases.  He will also touch on housing applications, especially in light of the current consultation on opening access to early advice in benefits and debt.
Simon Mullings, Edward Duthie Shamash

14:00-15:00: Education ECF: exclusion hearings and SEND appeals
This session will be in two parts. The first part is open to all. It will set out how to apply for ECF for representation in school exclusion hearings. We encourage all generalist public law practitioners to attend this part of the session. The second part will primarily be of interest to education legal aid providers. It will explore how to secure ECF for representation in the First-tier Tribunal’s Special Educational Needs and Disability chamber, with a focus on Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) appeals.
Ollie Persey, Garden Court Chambers