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Focus newsletter

On this page:

• About Focus
• Focus is moving online 
• Publication schedule
• Previous issues
• How can I subscribe? 
• Keycard 44 - April 2008
• For more information

About Focus

The LSC publishes Focus to inform people doing legal aid work about issues that affect them. It includes:

• updates on policies, initiatives and projects
• the latest legal and financial guidance from the LSC.

We produce Focus for everyone involved in contract legal aid work and Focus on CDS for professionals working in our Criminal Defence Service.

A typical issue of Focus will contain:

• news about recent events, decisions, announcements and initiatives
• invitations to participate in the projects and consultations that will help to shape the future of legal funding
• timetables of all the key dates and deadlines for consultations, franchising and contracting
• updates on ongoing pilots, projects and systems
• new eligibility rates every spring and updates on remuneration
• points of principle: summaries of important decisions made by the costs appeals committee
• guidance: a summary of the latest changes
• payment dates.

Focus is moving online

Focus and Focus on CDS are changing in 2008, moving from print to electronic format. This is in response to concern raised during past surveys about the high cost of producing and posting a magazine – and requests to make it more frequent.

A simple way to solve both issues is to transform Focus and Focus on CDS into an electronic publication.

We will set up an online subscription service for the new magazine, which will be accessible from this page.

Thank you to the many people who took part in the recent reader survey. Your views will be invaluable as we move Focus and Focus on CDS online.

Publication schedule

We currently publish Focus quarterly. The schedule is subject to change depending on what issues need to be communicated and when.

Issue 56 was published in June 2008 and is available in the Documents panel.

Previous issues

The latest 9 issues of Focus are available in the Documents panel.

Earlier issues are in the Archive.

How can I subscribe?

We are only producing one more paper copy of Focus/Focus on CDS, which is likely to be out in June 2008. If you would like to be on the mailing list for the paper copy, please email Verity Cork (Focus editor) with your name and postal or DX address.

Please do not email the editor to subscribe to the online version. An online subscription service is being set up for the new magazine. It will be accessible from this page.

Keycard 44 - April 2008

The next Focus/Focus on CDS is not due out until June 2008. Therefore the latest Financial Eligibility and Statutory Charge update (Keycard 44) is available directly from this website, at CLS > Civil legal aid eligibility. 

Keycard 44a (CDS Financial Eligbility) is also available from this website, at CDS > Criminal legal aid eligibility.

For more information

If you have questions about previous issues of Focus or would like a hard copy please, or you have any comments to make about the magazine, please contact:

Verity Cork
LSC Communications
Tel: 020 7759 0440
Email: Verity Cork

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Last updated: 14 May 2007