Extension notices to be issued for peer reviewer contracts

We are now issuing notices to all providers operating under the Peer Reviewer Contract.  Current contracts were due to end on 31 August 2026, however, we are extending these contracts for a further 6 months, to 28 February 2027.

A procurement process for the Peer Reviewer Contract will open in May 2026 for Services to commence from 1 March 2027 in the following Categories of Law:

• Crime
• Family
• Housing
• Immigration and Asylum; and
• Mental Health

All contracts will end on 28 February 2037 (subject to rights of early termination).

Details of the procurement process are set out in the Procurement Process section of this page.

Details of the changes we are making to the current Peer Reviewer Contract are set out in the Outline of Services section of this page.

Outline of Services

There will be an unlimited number of contracts available to individuals who are able to meet our minimum requirements.

Whilst we intend to largely replicate the current model for the provision of peer review, the Peer Review Contract will contain some key changes to ensure continued sustainability of the service. Those changes are set out below, alongside the key requirements organisations will be required to meet under the contract.

Our intention is that key features of the Peer Reviewer Contract will include the following provisions:

• increase in remuneration; there will be an increase in remuneration of Peer Review to £58.93 per hour.

• 10-year contract with annual admission; the 10-year contract will allow prospective Peer Reviewers to submit a Tender at any point during the Application period. Applications will be reviewed and processed on an annual basis to allow for appropriate training and onboarding to be available.

• contract compliance; a new process for contract monitoring which will review Peer Reviewer performance at least annually.

• alignment with changes to the Peer Review Independent Expert Service; to ensure the Peer Reviewer Contract aligns with the new model being introduced for the Peer Review Independent Expert Service, provisions will be implemented throughout the contract to recognise that the Peer Review Independent Expert will be operating on via panel arrangements rather than an individual.

Minimum Requirements

To tender for and hold a Peer Reviewer Contract, individuals must demonstrate that they:

• meet the minimum financial viability requirement
• are employed or will be employed by a Legal Aid Provider
• are a Supervisor that meets the relevant category supervisor standard in the relevant Categories of Law being tendered for
• either have received a Peer Reviewer’s Peer Review (PRPR) score of 1 or 2 in the 3 years preceding the submission of your Tender in the Categories of Law being tendered for or have 15 suitable closed legal aid files ready for PRPR upon request
• hold the Cyber Essentials accreditation
• commit to attending mandatory training as specified by the LAA

Further information on these requirements will be set out in the contract and tender documents.

Procurement Process

Applicants must submit a complete tender via two platforms:

1. Central Digital Platform (CDP) for supplier registration and core information,
2. LAA eTendering System for the Peer Reviewer Contract Response.

Proposed timetable

We anticipate that the activity relating to the procurement process will broadly follow the timetable set out below during the initial procurement period, however, a final timetable will be published in the Application Guide.