Legal advice
Evaluation of the Solihull Pilot for the United Kingdom Border Agency and the Legal Services Commission [Independent Evaluator Jane Aspden, October 2008]
In 2006, as part of its approach to improve the quality of decision making in the asylum system, UKBA agreed to a pilot scheme for the provision of early legal advice. Its main aim was to ensure that clients receive quality legal advice from the outset and throughout their claim. The pilot ran in Solihull until the end of 2007 and the evaluation was published in October 2008.
The Solihull pilot, as it is known, met its key success indicator in concluding 58% of its cases within six months and outperforming comparative conclusion rates outside the pilot in Solihull and Leeds.
Importantly all the participants, including UKBA Case Owners, recognised the benefits of this approach and found it to be a better way of working.
As a result of these findings it has been agreed in principle by the Legal Services Commission, subject to the contractual negotiations, that the scheme will be rolled out in the whole of the Midlands and East of England UKBA region from October 2010.
