Legal Aid Department Internal Audit Projects

The main functions of LAD's internal audit team are

(a) accounts auditing - examining and reporting on payment systems in relation to authorization, control and other traditional functions;

(b) systems auditing - examining, reporting and recommending improvements to the effectiveness of policies, procedures and programmes in systems such as means testing, performance pledges, assignment of cases to private practitioners, monitoring of cases assigned out with particular regard to cost control and progress reporting and legal aid payments etc; and

(c) developing new systems - advising on control procedures to be introduced to new systems being considered e.g. computer strategy, assignment of cases in-house.

A progress report on internal audit projects carried forward to or launched in the financial year 2005-2006 is set out below -


Progress Report Internal Audit Projects

Projects Carried Forward to or Launched in the Financial Year 2005-2006

Item Project Status as at 31 March 2006 Main Findings Recommendations Implementation
(1) To review the Operations of the Supplementary Legal Aid Scheme including the Supplementary Legal Aid Fund. Expected to be finalised in late June / early July 2005 Errors in amounts in the data inputs were found in three instances. Amendments should be made to have the amounts rectified. Amounts had been rectified.
(2) To review Payroll and Leave Records. Completed in October 2005 The "Termination Register" used to record details of staff terminations had been checked by the designated officer as required but evidence of the checking was not shown. The designated officer should initial the "Termination Register" as a form of evidence on completion of all checking. Recommendation accepted and implemented immediately.
(3) To conduct a review as to the circumstances under which legal aid cases should be / could be finalized. In progress N.A. N.A. N.A.
(4) To conduct a review on the ISS/Web-enabled Payment of Creditors System (WPOCS). In progress N.A. N.A. N.A.

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