Legal Aid Hourly Rates for Solicitors

What are the legal aid rates for solicitors in England

Legal aid hourly rates for solicitors in England and Wales vary significantly by location (London vs. outside London), fee earner experience, and the type of work. For instance, solicitor attendance for civil cases in London could be £57.83 per hour, while outside London it might be £54.09. For criminal legal aid, senior solicitors attending court in a criminal case could receive £44.33 per hour, but this is outside London. Recent reforms, however, have proposed increasing minimum hourly rates to ensure the sustainability of legal aid services.

Hourly Rates by Type of Work and Location

Civil Legal Aid:
- Preparation & Attendance: Outside London, rates are £54.09 per hour, while in London, they are £57.83 per hour.
- Advocacy: This is also priced at £65.79 per hour in both London and outside London.
- Travel and Waiting: Outside London, the rate is £27.81 per hour, and in London, it is £28.62 per hour.
Criminal Legal Aid:
- Senior Solicitor (Criminal): £44.33 per hour for attendance at court.
- Solicitor or Legal Executive: £35.68 per hour for attendance at court.
- Trainee or Equivalent: £21.52 per hour for attendance at court.
- Travelling and Waiting (Senior Solicitor): £25.97 per hour.

Key Factors Influencing Rates

Location:Hourly rates are often higher in London compared to other parts of the country.
Fee Earner Experience:Rates are tiered based on experience, with senior solicitors or those with many years of experience commanding higher rates.
Work Type:Different rates apply to different types of legal work, such as preparation, attendance, advocacy, and travel.

Reforms and Future Changes

Increased Fees:There have been significant discussions and proposals to increase fees for housing and immigration work, as they have not been updated for many years.
Minimum Hourly Rates:Proposals have been made to set minimum hourly rates at £65.35 outside London and £69.30 inside London to ensure the long-term sustainability of the legal aid system.
Independent Reviews:Organizations like The Law Society advocate for regular reviews of legal aid fees by an independent body to account for rising staff costs and other business expenses.

Lawsyst case management system comes with prepopulated LAA rates for various types of LAA contracts and type of work. For more information, please contact our LAA Billing Help Desk or contact your legal aid accounts manager at the LAA.