The Legal Aid Agency has published preview copies of updated civil claim forms which come into force 1 April 2015. 

The updated forms available to preview are:

• CIV CLAIM 1: claim for assessment of costs in civil cases
• CIV CLAIM 1A: claim for costs in fixed fee family cases
• CIV CLAIM 2: report in civil cases – costs met in part or in full by other party
• CIV CLAIM 5: claim for Family Graduated Fee (Counsel)
• CIV CLAIM 5A: claim for Family Advocacy Scheme (Counsel)
• POA1 Claim for payment on account in civil cases
• Counsel matrix: details of counsel claims paid to date (new form)

The ‘Counsel matrix’ is a new form that has been introduced to assist with the reconciliation of counsel’s fees. This is where payment has been made direct to counsel under the Family Advocacy Scheme or Family Graduated Fee scheme.

More information is available on the LAA website.