---
title: "Retrieve an existing prior-authority request (draft or submitted)"
method: GET
path: "/prior-authorities/{priorAuthorityId}"
tags: ["Prior Authority"]
---

# Retrieve an existing prior-authority request (draft or submitted)

`GET /prior-authorities/{priorAuthorityId}`

## Request

- Base URL: `http://localhost:8080`
- URL: `http://localhost:8080/prior-authorities/{priorAuthorityId}`
- Auth: none declared

## Path parameters

- `priorAuthorityId` string, uuid, required

## Response `200`

Prior authority returned.

- PriorAuthorityResponse: A prior-authority record as returned by the Access Data Store. status is null while the request is still a draft, and PENDING (or later) once it has been submitted.
  - `priorAuthorityId` string, uuid: Identifier of the prior-authority request, assigned when it was created.
  - `status` string, nullable: Lifecycle status. null while a draft; e.g. PENDING once submitted.
  - `draft` PriorAuthorityDraft: A prior-authority form, saved and updated incrementally through the create/update draft lifecycle before being submitted. At most one of expertDetails, counselDetails or disbursementDetails should be populated, matching priorAuthorityType.
    - `applicationId` string, uuid, required: ID of the application this prior-authority request is associated with.
    - `priorAuthorityType` 'EXPERT' | 'COUNSEL' | 'DISBURSEMENT', nullable: The category of prior authority being requested.
    - `justification` string, nullable: Detailed rationale explaining why funding is necessary.
    - `expertDetails` ExpertDetails: The expert and what they will cost.
      - `expertType` string, required: The expert type.
      - `expertFullName` string, required: Full name of the expert the prior authority is for.
      - `expertPostcode` string, required: Primary business postcode of the expert, for regional rate mapping.
      - `expertCosts` ExpertCosts, required: What the expert will cost, how they will be billed, and how the costs are shared.
        - `billingType` 'HOURLY' | 'FIXED_RATE', required: Whether the expert is billed hourly or at a flat rate.
        - `hourlyRate` number: Hourly rate in GBP. Required when billingType is HOURLY.
        - `timeRequested` TimeRequested: The amount of the expert's time being requested.
          - `hours` integer, required: Whole hours requested.
          - `minutes` integer, required: Additional minutes requested.
        - `totalAmount` number, required: Amount requested in GBP. For HOURLY billing this is hourlyRate x (hours + minutes / 60); for FIXED_RATE it is the flat fee entered by the provider.
        - `costsSharedWithOtherParties` boolean, required: Whether the expert's costs are shared with other parties.
        - `apportionment` Apportionment: How the expert's costs are shared with other parties. Present when costsSharedWithOtherParties is true; omitted when it is false.
          - `partiesSharingCosts` integer, required: Total number of parties sharing the costs, including the client.
          - `clientShareAmount` number, required: The client's share of the costs, in GBP.
    - `counselDetails` CounselDetails: The counsel requested. Required when priorAuthorityType is COUNSEL.
      - `counselType` 'KINGS_COUNSEL_ALONE' | 'TWO_JUNIOR_COUNSEL' | 'KINGS_COUNSEL_AND_JUNIOR_COUNSEL' | 'KINGS_COUNSEL_AND_TWO_JUNIOR_COUNSEL', required: Type of counsel being applied for.
    - `disbursementDetails` DisbursementDetails: The disbursement requested. Required when priorAuthorityType is DISBURSEMENT.
      - `disbursementPurpose` string, required: What the disbursement is for.
      - `disbursementAmount` number, required: Cost of the disbursement in GBP, exclusive of VAT.
  - `uploadedDocuments` UploadedDocument[]: Documents uploaded as supporting evidence for this prior-authority.
    - `documentId` string, uuid: Identifier assigned to the uploaded document by the Access Data Store.
    - `documentType` 'GATEWAY_EVIDENCE' | 'MERITS_REPORT' | 'STATEMENT_OF_CASE' | 'COURT_APPLICATION' | 'COURT_ORDER' | 'EXPERT_REPORT' | 'COURT_APPLICATION_OR_ORDER' | 'PARENTAL_RESPONSIBILITY' | 'LOCAL_AUTHORITY_ASSESSMENT' | 'GROUNDS_OF_APPEAL' | 'COUNSEL_OPINION' | 'JUDGEMENT' | 'PLF_COURT_ORDER' | 'LETTER_OF_INSTRUCTION' | 'ESTIMATE_OF_COSTS' | 'ALTERNATIVE_QUOTE' | 'OTHER_PARTY_CERTIFICATE_REFERENCE' | 'OTHER_SUPPORTING_DOCUMENT' | 'PRIMARY_QUOTE' | 'ADDITIONAL_QUOTE': Type of document that was uploaded.
    - `fileName` string, required: Filename of the uploaded document.
    - `fileType` string: File extension/type of the uploaded document.
    - `mediaType` string: MIME content type of the uploaded document.
    - `hostedUrl` string
    - `size` integer: Size of the uploaded document, in bytes.
    - `uploadedAt` string, date-time: Timestamp the document was uploaded.
    - `sourceService` string: The service that uploaded the document to the Access Data Store.
    - `checksum` string: Checksum of the uploaded document contents.

## Other responses

- `404`: Prior authority not found.

## Changes

- **2026-09-16** `c96fb373a2c9`: 1 info
  - added the optional property `uploadedDocuments` to the response with the `200` status
- **2026-09-11** `efed7defdc0c`: 1 info
  - endpoint added

[Operation history](https://skmtc.dev/ministryofjustice/apis/ministry-of-justice-laa-civil-manage-api/changes/prior-authorities/:priorAuthorityId/get.md)

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/ministryofjustice/apis/ministry-of-justice-laa-civil-manage-api.md) - [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/ministryofjustice/apis/ministry-of-justice-laa-civil-manage-api/llms.txt) - [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc.dev/ministryofjustice/apis/ministry-of-justice-laa-civil-manage-api/revisions/fc3ff4e8c6f9?raw)