Post by The Law Society

A win for justice and for the people who keep the system running: long-awaited funding for criminal legal aid agreed. 📣👇 Thanks to our advocacy work, the government has agreed to change the escape fee for police station work to be set at £650 instead of £900. This means solicitors can claim more money for work beyond the fixed fee. This win comes alongside broader long-awaited increases to criminal legal aid fees. This announcement is a step forward for the legal profession and for us all because when the criminal legal aid system benefits, we all benefit. ⚖️ Funding criminal legal aid lawyers to carry out crucial work at police stations, in magistrates’ courts, in the Crown Court, and in prisons ensures a level playing field across the system. This means that cases can be dealt with more efficiently, and that victims, witnesses, and defendants can get timely justice and fair outcomes. 🔗 While we welcome this much needed additional funding, there is still more to be done. Find out more about how we’re advocating for increases in criminal legal aid fees: https://ow.ly/SS3F50XA6om