Victims will get swifter access to justice thanks to a
multi-million pound investment in the criminal legal aid sector
as part of the government's latest step to ensure justice is done
and our streets are safe.
Under proposals announced by the Lord Chancellor, MP, today (Thursday 19
December) criminal legal aid solicitors will receive up to £92
million more a year to help address the ongoing challenges in the
criminal justice system and get justice for victims.
Access to justice is a cornerstone of our justice system and is
fundamental to getting criminal cases through the courts –
getting the system moving again for victims. This 12 per cent
increase in funding, on top of the 12 per cent announced in
response to the Criminal Legal Aid Independent Review, will
ensure justice can be done while strengthening the entire sector
for the future.
It also lays the groundwork for longer-term reform of the
criminal legal aid market. Taking on legal aid cases should be a
simple process for solicitors and barristers and those reliant on
legal aid need to have quick and effective access to it, no
matter where they are.
Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, , said:
Justice for victims would not be possible without the hard and
complex work carried out by criminal legal aid solicitors and
barristers up and down this country.
The criminal legal aid sector has been underfunded for too long.
It is a crucial part of this government's Plan for Change to put
the justice system on a sustainable footing now and for the
future.
This further boost of up to £92million will increase access and
speed up justice for victims and ensure solicitors are properly
compensated for their work.
Today's news builds on the decision last month to increase fees for
solicitors who work in police stations and Youth Courts by £24
million
Taken together it is a significant investment to reflect the
valuable and tough work that is undertaken by those who work in
the criminal justice system, helping them to make sure justice is
served and that victims get the resolution they need.
This is just one part of the government's commitment to make sure
victims are supported and criminals face justice. Earlier this
week (Tuesday 17th December), the government funded an
additional 2,000 sitting days in the Crown Courts, bringing
court capacity to its highest levels in a decade. Ministers are
determined to tackle the backlog and will be working closely with
legal professionals, like the Criminal Bar Association and the
Bar Council, to deliver swifter justice for victims.
Last week, the Lord Chancellor also announced Sir Brian
Leveson's independent review into the criminal courts, which
will look at major court reform to tackle the outstanding
criminal caseload and ensure victims of crimes will see
perpetrators face justice more quickly.
Further informationOn Criminal Legal aid
for solicitors
- In November, the government announced a £24m injection into
police station and youth court fees as part of its Crime Lower
consultation response. Those uplifts came into force on 6
December 2024, raising solicitor criminal legal aid fees by 12%
since the Criminal Legal Aid Independent Review (CLAIR).
- Today's announcement of an additional 12% uplift will
therefore take the total uplift to 24% since CLAIR for criminal
legal aid solicitors over this Parliament.
- Ministers have committed to working with the Bar leadership
through the Criminal Legal Aid Advisory Board on longer-term
reform of the criminal legal aid market.
On Civil Legal Aid
-
In January 2025, the government will consult on increasing
legal aid fees for those working in the housing (housing and
debt) and immigration (immigration and asylum) sectors,
aiming to increase fees to a rate in the region of £65/£69
per hour (non-London/London), or provide a 10% uplift,
whichever is higher. Fixed fees will be uplifted by an amount
proportional to the increase in the underlying hourly rate
for that work. This will be implemented in 2025-26 with
costs scaling up to £20m by 2027-28.
-
We will continue to consider the fees paid in other
categories of civil legal aid, including as part of the
second phase of the government's spending review, due in
Spring 2025.
