Part 2Legal aid
Application and grant
16AUse of automated electronic systems for certain grants of legal aid
The Commissioner may use an automated electronic system to grant legal aid to a natural person if—
- the person requires the grant for proceedings in respect of an offence punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of not less than 6 months; and
- neither the income nor the disposable capital of that person exceeds the relevant maximum level prescribed in the regulations.
A grant made in the manner authorised by subsection (1) is, for the purposes of this Act, taken to have been made by the Commissioner.
Where an error is made in a grant of legal aid made in the manner authorised by subsection (1), the Commissioner may cancel or correct the grant.
Subsection (2) is subject to subsection (3).
A grant made in the manner authorised by subsection (1) is not subject to any of the conditions referred to in section 18.
Every grant made in the manner authorised by subsection (1) must state a maximum grant, which must be the amount prescribed under subsection (7).
The Commissioner may from time to time, by notice
, specify the amount of the maximum grant for any grant made in the manner authorised by subsection (1).A notice under subsection (7) is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).