FOI/202500492785 · FOI · unclear
Legal Aid Traineeship Fund information: FOI release
Information requested
1. The annual costs incurred by the Scottish Government in delivering the Legal Aid Traineeship Fund for each financial year it was delivered.
2. A breakdown of these costs, including (but not limited to):
Salary contributions per trainee. Regulatory costs (e.g., Practising Certificate fees, CPD). Administrative or management costs associated with the fund.
3. Any additional funding or adjustments made to the fund during these years (e.g., uplifts, special grants).
4. The number of trainee places and firms supported.
5. Copies of any published reports or evaluations on the financial impact or effectiveness of the Legal Aid Traineeship Fund.
Response
I have provided all the information you requested either within this response or within the accompanying document.
In response to question 1 is provided below.
Year 1 - £117,786.06 Year 2 - £397,219.54 Year 3 - £312,833.94 Year 4 - £47,237.09
In response to question 2 is provided below.
Rate Rate 1st year 2nd year Salary costs Gross Salary* 19,500.00 22,500.00 Employers NI 13.80% £8,722 1,487.36 1,901.36 Employers Pension 3% £6,032 404.04 494.04 21,391.40 24,895.40 Other costs Admission 391.00 Early admission course 50.00 PC/roll fees - NQ 335.00 335.00 SLCC 200.00 200.00 TCPD* 717.00 717.00 Annual costs 23,084.40 26,147.40 50% split 11,542.20 13,073.70 Total cost per trainee over two years 24,615.90
Administration or management costs
Year 1 – £14,267.70 Year 2 – £19,810.44 Year 3 – £11,989.36 Year 4 - £1,677.7
In response to question 3 – there was no additional funding or adjustments made to the fund during these years (e.g., uplifts, special grants) during the duration of the Fund.
In response to question 4 - The Fund was intended to support 40 traineeships and legal aid firms across Scotland, 30 completed their traineeships.
In response to question 5 - The Report has not been published but I attach a copy for your information.
About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.