Press Release
Number of providers using LSC Online increases by 450%
Thursday 13 June 2006
Sir Michael Bichard, Chair of the Legal Services Commission (LSC), highlighted the meteoric growth in the number of legal aid providers using LSC Online, an electronic billing system, during his opening address to the Modernising Justice Through IT conference, which took place at the QEII Conference Centre in London today.
The number of LSC Online users increased from 433 in March 2005 to 1950 in March 2006 – a 450% increase. The 1950 users of LSC Online in March 2006 exceeded the target the LSC set itself of 1500.
Commenting on the success of LSC Online, Sir Michael said:
“I want to congratulate everyone at the LSC who contributed to us exceeding the LSC Online target for 2005/06. Our success provides a strong foundation for future e-Business advances. E-Business is a crucial part of our Preferred Supplier strategy. I’m pleased that so many of our skilled and dedicated advice providers have signed up to LSC Online. The popularity of the service shows that this way of working has benefits for providers, as well as providing better value for taxpayers’ money.”
The main benefits to providers of using LSC Online are:
- civil and criminal claims are reported through one easy-to-use interface
- extended submission date for claims – 20th of each month
- reduced possibility of transcription errors
- built-in error/omission alert facility
- summary of submissions – showing case outcomes and costs
- confirmation of successful submission – resulting in guaranteed payment where applicable.
The LSC benefits from providers using LSC Online due to:
- direct cost savings as increased electronic billing will significantly reduce the volume of data inputting at processing centres
- no transcription errors – resulting in more accurate data, providing financial benefits to the LSC
- fast transaction of data – data is processed the evening the submission is sent
- efficient and immediate e-channel established to communicate with providers
- LSC Online provides a foundation of electronically linked providers enabling two-way exchange of data.
Providers interested in registering to use LSC Online should call the Marketing Team on 0117 302 3117 or email
online-marketing@legalservices.gov.uk.
Sir Michael also discussed his experience as Chair of the Soham Inquiry at the conference. Other speakers included Lord Laming, Chairman of the Victoria Climbie Inquiry, Bernard Hogan-Howe, Chief Constable of Merseyside Police and Mike Manisty, Director of Offender Information Services at the National Offender Management Service.
ENDS
Media information
Richard Shand Tel: 020 7759 0491
Email: richard.shand@legalservices.gov.uk
Notes to editors
1. More information about LSC Online is available from the LSC’s website at www.legalservices.gov.uk/civil/ebusiness/index.asp.
2. Further information on the Modernising Justice Through IT conference is available at www.govnet.co.uk/justice.
3. Please see the LSC’s press release Major Legal Aid reform will improve quality of advice (20 March 2006), available at www.legalservices.gov.uk/press/press_release65.asp for more information on the Preferred Supplier strategy proposals.
Last updated: 28 December 2006