Providers can now apply for contracts to deliver legal aid work in the inquests category of law.
We are inviting tenders for contracts to deliver work in the inquests category of law under the 2024 Standard Civil Contract. This supports the Public Office (Accountability) Bill.
This is one of the biggest expansions of legal aid provision in over a decade. It will create new opportunities for providers to support bereaved families through the inquest process.
We are launching this procurement before Royal Assent. This is to make sure enough providers are ready to deliver services as soon as possible once the legislation commences. The timing of service launch depends on the Parliamentary timetable and agreement of a formal commencement date.
The contract will end on 30 June 2028, in line with the wider 2024 Standard Civil Contract. This is subject to rights of early termination and the Legal Aid Agency’s (LAA) right to extend the contract by up to 2 months.
Application period and key dates
The application period will stay open until on or around 31 March 2027. You can tender at any point during this period.
If you submit your tender by 17:00 on 4 September 2026, we will assess it for contracts starting at service launch, if it passes verification.
Contract documentation
Read more about the contract provisions for the Inquests category of law on the Standard Civil Contract 2024 page, where we have published the Inquests category specific rules.
We will make other changes to contract documentation in due course. This includes a change to the 2024 Standard Civil Contract Specification: General Rules, to confirm that providers must have at least a part-time presence.
How to get more information about the procurement process
Read the Application Guide for full details of the procurement process. Find it on the Introduction of Inquest Category of Law page.