Freedom of Information - LSANI
Information on the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000, how to make a FOI request and also includes details of payments made to legal aid practitioners.
Make an FOI request
What is the Freedom of Information Act?
The information below sets out your rights under the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) 2000 and provides contact details should you wish to make an enquiry. FOIA gives people a right of access to information held by public bodies. The Legal Services Agency Northern Ireland (LSANI) is a Public Body covered by the Act.
FOI applies to information whatever its age, and information is assumed to be "open" unless one of the exemptions set out in the Act applies. Anyone anywhere in the world can submit a written request for information in a letter or email to a public authority. The public authority must say whether it holds the information, and if it does, then provide it unless one of the exemptions applies to the information requested.
Do you want to request information under the Act?
The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) provides useful guidance on it's website for members of the public wishing to request information from public bodies.
If you require information that is not already available elsewhere on our website; or require it in a different format (e.g. a hard copy or other accessible format) you may ask for it under FOI by emailing us, writing to us or, by making initial contact with the Communications Manager by telephone.
The email address to send your information requests to is:
Payments to practitioners
Each year the Agency publish the total payments made from the legal aid fund to barristers and solicitors' practices, this also includes rankings and band averages.