The increase for crime lower work comes into force on 22 December, bringing police station duty solicitor fees to £320 and dropping the escape fee threshold for excess work from £900 to £650. Prison law fees will be uplifted 24% and magistrates’ court, youth court and some appeals raised 10%.
Legislation to increase the crime higher fee will be laid as soon as the changes can be delivered through the Legal Aid Agency digital systems, which have been down since May due to a cyber-attack.
Law Society vice president Brett Dixon described the increase, worth up to £92m, as ‘a positive step forward’.
Justice minister Sarah Sackman also confirmed a £2m boost for licensed housing and immigration work to be delivered as soon as possible, on top of an extra £18m for housing and immigration fees.
