Legal aid statistics: April 2014 to June 2014
Source: data.gov.uk (2018-05-25)

Legal Aid Statistics. This dataset provides quarterly aggregated data on overall volume and claim expenditure on the legal aid schemes administered by the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) for England and Wales. The reports include statistics on Criminal legal aid covering Police stations, magistrates' courts, Prison Law and the Crown Courts alongside Civil Legal Aid covering Legal Help, family mediation, Civil Representation and exceptional case funding). On an annual cycle further datasets released include Client and provider characteristics, Criminal central funds and higher courts, Appeals and Provider based volume and expenditure figures with geography. All datasets are designed to monitor the workload and expenditure of the legal aid system with further more detailed available than provided in accompanying tables.

Legal Aid Statistics in 
England and Wales 
Legal Aid Agency  
Apr to Jun 2014 
 
 
Ministry of Justice 
Statistics bulletin 
 
 
Published 25 September 2014 
 
 
 
1 

 
2 
Contents 
Executive summary 
3 
Introduction 
5 
Geographic coverage of the report 
7 
Analysis and commentary 
8 
Summary 
8 
Criminal Legal Aid 
10 
Crime higher 
11 
Crime lower 
15 
Civil legal aid 
20 
Family 
22 
Non-family – social welfare law (SWL) 
25 
Non-family – low volume (LV) 
25 
Tribunals 
26 
Exceptional Case Funding: applications and determinations 
28 
Applications 
28 
Determinations 
29 
Annual updates 
31 
Appealing decisions 
31 
Provider Information 
31 
Clients of Legal Aid 
31 
Timeliness 
31 
Data Sources and Data Quality 
32 
Guidance on tables and supplementary information. 
35 
Annex A - Glossary of key terms 
57 
Annex B - Explanatory notes 
63 
Annex C - Contact points for further information 
64 
 

 
3 
Executive summary 
Quarterly statistics on the legal aid system 
1. 
This is the first quarterly edition of the Legal Aid Statistics, which has previously been published only 
annually. This increase in frequency provides users with more up to date statistics on activity in this 
rapidly-changing part of the justice system, and increases the transparency of the Legal Aid Agency.  
2. 
Feedback from users on the format and content of the Legal Aid Statistics are encouraged, and can 
be submitted via the contact details shown in Annex C at the very end of this bulletin. 
 
New to this edition 
3. 
All previous editions have been published alongside the Agency’s Annual Report and Accounts, 
enabling them to report expenditure on an accruals accounting basis (meaning that they report the 
value of the work done in the period), aligned with the accounts for the full financial year. This is not 
possible with a quarterly publication.  
4. 
Therefore this bulletin instead presents expenditure in terms of the total value of payments made to 
legal aid providers in relation to the cases that are completed in the period. This should not be 
confused with expenditure as shown in the Annual Report and Accounts. There are important 
differences between these two measures of value which mean that they are not directly comparable 
and the figures shown for April to June 2014 in this bulletin are not indicative of the Agency’s 
expenditure in 2014-15. 
5. 
In addition to the difference in the timing of reporting, the figures in this bulletin do not take account 
of income received in the period (the Agency’s income in 2013-14 was £210m out of total net 
expenditure of £1,709m).  
6. 
Previous, annual editions of Legal Aid Statistics have included an overall measure of workload 
volume known as Acts of Assistance. The purpose of this measure is to capture volumes across the 
whole system within a single number. However, this number must be interpreted with caution 
because it is a composite measure which includes a combination of units from the diverse range of 
cases and schemes that make up the legal aid system. For example, it does not differentiate 
between a relatively quick, low-cost act of assistance such as the provision of pre-charge advice in a 
police station and a complex, relatively high-cost court case. 
7. 
Additionally the basis on which the volumes have been measured has varied between different types 
of legal aid due to the data available: crime lower volumes have been based on claim volumes, 
which relate to the end of activity on a case, whereas for other legal aid areas volumes have been 
based on case starts, the start of activity on a case.  Due to the duration of legal aid cases, timing 
differences will affect volumes depending on whether starts or claims are counted.  
8. 
At a time when the mix of cases and activities is changing, this measure may not provide the best 
indication of trends in workload across the legal aid system. For this reason, Acts of Assistance is 
not included in this edition and readers are instead encouraged to refer to the figures on volume 
within each distinct area of legal aid. 
 

 
4 
Criminal legal aid 
9. 
Workload in the wider Criminal Justice System (CJS) has fallen recently and as a consequence work 
further down the system, including criminal legal aid, has also seen a fall.  
10. The number of claims for legal aid in the crime higher category has been gradually falling since a 
peak in Jan-Mar 2012, in the last quarter there was a four per cent fall compared to the same period 
the previous year.  There has been a similar trend in the value of completed cases. 
11. The largest area within crime higher is in representation at the Crown Court.  Overall this category 
has remained stable, but this is because rises in representation orders granted for either way 
offences have been offset by falls in all other areas. 
12. A recent decline in workload in the crime lower category has stabilised over the last 18 months, but 
workload in April to June 2014 was five per cent down compared to the previous year. 
 
Civil legal aid 
13. The implementation of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act (LASPO) in April 
2013 resulted in large reductions in legal help workload and expenditure.  However, since this initial 
fall trends have begun to stabilise. In the last quarter there was a two per cent increase in workload 
compared to the same period in 2013.  
14. In civil representation the reductions following the implementation of LASPO have been more 
gradual.  Numbers of certificates granted for civil representation have stabilised over the last few 
quarters. 
15. In April to June, volumes in family were down by 27 per cent, while social welfare law increased by 
four per cent and there was no change in tribunals when compared to the same period of the 
previous year.    
 
 

 
5 
Introduction 
This report presents the key statistics on activity in the legal aid system for England and Wales. It 
provides information for the latest three months (April to June 2014) with accompanying commentary, 
analysis and presentation of longer term trends. 
The data provides users with information about legal advice, legal representation and eventual outcomes 
in England and Wales. The contents of this bulletin will be of interest to government policy makers in the 
development of policy and their subsequent monitoring and evaluation, and to providers and recipients of 
legal aid. Others will be interested in the way different categories of law are dealt with and the use of 
legal aid within the system.  
Further information on the terminology used within the bulletin can be found in ‘Annex A – Glossary of 
key terms’ 
Guidance on the symbols and conventions used in the bulletin is provided in ‘Annex B – Explanatory 
notes’. 
If you have any feedback, questions or requests for further information about this statistical bulletin, 
please direct them to the appropriate contact given at the end of this report ‘Annex C – Contact points for 
further information’. 
Creation of the Legal Aid Agency 
Until April 2013 the Legal Services Commission (LSC) was a Non Departmental Public Body (NDPB) with 
statutory duties in relation to the Community Legal Service Fund (CLSF) and Criminal Defence Service 
(CDS), funding legal advice and representation in civil and criminal law. On 1 April 2013 the LSC was 
abolished as a result of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders (LASPO) Act 2012. An 
executive agency of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) was created to administer legal aid from 1 April 2013, 
called the Legal Aid Agency (LAA). 
The legal aid system dates from 1949. The scheme was administered by the Law Society, the 
professional body which regulates and represents solicitors, until the Legal Aid Act 1988, which 
established the Legal Aid Board. Following the doubling of the legal aid budget in the early 1990’s a 
review of the system was carried out in 1997, leading to the Access to Justice Act 1999 and the LSC. The 
latest review recommended that the LSC align more closely with the MoJ and therefore the LSC as a 
NDPB was abolished and the LAA, an executive agency was created as a result of the LASPO Act 2012. 
LASPO Act 2012 
As well as creating the LAA, the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders (LASPO) Act also 
made changes to the scope and eligibility of legal aid and to exceptional case funding.  These changes 
came into effect from 1 April 2013 and so will be reflected in this report. The full details of the LASPO Act 
can be found here: www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2012/10/enacted 
Workload 
For many areas of civil law, the implementation of the LASPO Act led to a reduction of workload.  Areas 
affected include:  
- 
Family – legal aid is now only available for private family law cases (such as contact or divorce) if 
there is evidence of domestic violence or child abuse and child abduction cases. Legal aid 
remains available for public family law cases (such as adoption). . 
 

 
6 
- 
Social Welfare – legal aid has been removed (with some exceptions) for debt, employment, 
housing and welfare benefits. 
 
- 
Low Volume – legal aid has been removed (with some exceptions) or reduced for clinical 
negligence, education and personal injury. 
 
- 
Tribunals – legal aid has been reduced for immigration work. 
Exceptional Case Funding (ECF) 
If a case falls outside the scope of legal aid, funding may still be provided if the case is deemed 
‘exceptional’.  A case will be deemed as such if failure to provide legal aid would be, or would result in, a 
breach of the individual’s rights under the European Convention of Human Rights.  There is a section in 
this report on ECF applications and determination.   
Telephone Gateway 
The LASPO Act has created a mandatory gateway through the ‘Community Legal Advice’ helpline for 
those seeking legal advice in relation to debt, special education needs and discrimination claims relating 
to a breach of the Equality Act 2010. This means that the only way clients can obtain legal aid for these 
types of cases is by calling the helpline. Gateway call operators and specialist advisers will assess the 
specific needs of callers on a case by case basis and may refer them to a face to face advice service if 
they consider it necessary.    
Legal Aid Transformation 
The LASPO Act also required the LAA to implement a number of changes to the way legal aid is 
administered, through the Legal Aid Reform programme. 
 
The Legal Aid Transformation programme has since been put in place to examine the possibilities of 
further legal aid savings, including the concept of tendering to be a criminal legal aid provider.  
 
As a result the following reforms were effective from 2 December 2013: 
 
‐ 
Reform of fees in criminal Very High Cost Cases (VHCCs).  On 7th July 2014 temporary 
arrangements were put in place, under which self-employed barristers were instructed to 
represent defendants in a number of VHCCs.  For more information: www.justice.gov.uk/legal-
aid/newslatest-updates/crime-news/joint-statement-by-the-bar-council,-the-criminal-bar-
association,-the-circuit-leaders-and-the-ministry-of-justice-on-vhcc-advocacy 
  
‐ 
Changes to the scope of prison law for legal aid 
‐ 
Changes to the rules for use of multiple advocates for criminal legal aid  
‐ 
Changes to experts’ fees for both civil and criminal law  
‐ 
Removal of the uplift for permission and appeal work for immigration and asylum law 
‐ 
Harmonising Barrister fees – for civil (non-family) law 
 
The following reforms were effective from 27 January 2014: 
 
‐ 
Changes to the Crown Court means test for criminal legal aid  
‐ 
Removing legal aid for cases judged to have borderline prospects of success  
 
The following reform was effective from 20 March 2014: 
 
Interim Fee Cut for criminal legal aid work of 8.75 per cent (excluding VHCCs) 
The following reforms are effective from 22 April 2014: 
 
‐ 
Changes to the Remuneration of Judicial Review cases  

 
7 
‐ 
Changes to remuneration schemes to reflect the introduction of a Family Court  
‐ 
Reduction of the fixed fee paid to providers in Family Cases covered by the Care Proceedings 
Graduated Fee Scheme (and the underlying hourly rates) by 10%  
‐ 
Amendments to private family law children and finance evidence requirements 
‐ 
A new legal requirement for applicants to attend a mediation information and assessment meeting 
 
The full effect of all these changes will not be seen in this report as reforms were implemented part way 
through the period. 
 
Geographic coverage of the report 
The LAA administers the legal aid system for England and Wales only. Scotland and Northern Ireland 
have their own legal aid systems, administered by the Scottish Legal Aid Board and Northern Ireland 
Legal Services Commission respectively.  

 
Analysis and commentary 
This analysis presents the information collected on legal aid administered by the LAA and covers the two 
areas of work, crime and civil.   
Summary 
Legal aid workload can be broken down into two main justice areas, crime and civil: 
 
Legal aid 
 
8 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Criminal legal aid 
- This includes work carried out in police 
stations and in courts in relation to 
people accused of or charged with 
criminal offences. 
- Provides legal advice and 
representation to people being 
investigated or charged with a criminal 
offence. 
- Split into crime higher and crime lower. 
o Crime higher is legal 
representation in the Crown Court 
and above. 
o Crime Lower is work carried out 
by legal aid providers at police 
stations and in magistrates’ courts 
in relation to people accused of or 
charged with criminal offences. 
Prison law is also included within 
this category. 
 
Civil legal aid 
- This includes work that relates to the 
rights and relations of private citizens- 
for example, disputes relating to 
unpaid debts and family matters. 
- A network of organisations fund, 
provide and promote civil legal advice 
and representation.  
- Split into legal help and civil 
representation. 
o Legal help includes advice and 
assistance about a legal problem, 
but does not include 
representation or advocacy in 
proceedings.  
o Civil representation is 
representation by solicitors and 
barristers for civil cases, which 
could go to court 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
Financial information presented in this bulletin 
This bulletin presents expenditure in terms of the total value of payments made to legal aid 
providers in relation to the cases that are completed in the period. This should not be confused 
with expenditure as shown in the Annual Report and Accounts. There are important differences 
between these two measures of value which mean that they are not directly comparable and the 
figures shown for April to June 2014 in this bulletin are not indicative of the Agency’s expenditure 
in 2014-15. 
In addition to the difference in the timing of reporting, the figures in this bulletin do not take account 
of income received in the period (the Agency’s income in 2013-14 was £210m out of total net 
expenditure of £1,709m). 
The value of cases completed between April and June 2014 was just under £419 million1, this is an 11 
per cent reduction on the same period in 2013.   The split in payments is fairly even between criminal 
legal aid (47%) and civil legal aid (53%).  However, civil representation makes up 46% of the value of 
payments made for cases completed in this period (see figure 1). 
Figure 1: Value of payments made for cases completed in Apr-Jun 2014, by legal aid scheme  
 
Crime higher
27%
Crime lower
20%
Legal 
help
6%
Civil 
representation
46%
 
 
Note: Data on the value of completed cases are provisional and subject to change  
                                                
1 Data on the value of completed cases are provisional and subject to change. 
9 

 
Criminal Legal Aid 
The diagram below shows the availability of legal aid flows (in bold) throughout the Criminal Justice 
System (CJS) with legal services touching on the system from start to finish. 
 
 
All criminal cases are potentially within the scope of the criminal legal aid scheme, subject to the Interests 
of Justice test and the means test operating to exclude some cases. 
Figures given in this report reflect each of the areas above with information from the pre-charge stage, 
the early court system and prison assistance found in the crime lower section and the more serious 
Crown Court, Higher Courts and high cost case information provided in the crime higher section. 
Workload in the wider Criminal Justice System (CJS) has fallen in the last few years and as a 
consequence work further down the system, including criminal legal aid, has also seen a fall. The largest 
volume reductions in overall workload within criminal legal aid have been in been in pre-charge work, 
which has seen a fall of 22,000 cases (11 per cent) in April to June 2014 compared to the same period in 
2011 and the magistrates’ court area with a drop of 16,000 cases (14 per cent) in April to June 2014 
compared to the same period in 2011.   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10 

 
Figure 2: Volumes within criminal legal aid area Apr-Jun 2014 
Crime
342,000
Crime higher
54,000
Crime lower
288,000
Pre-charge suspects, 
180,000
Charged defendants, 
3,000
Representation at 
Magistrates' court, 
99,000
Prison Law, 6,000
Litigator Graduated 
Fee Scheme,  
28,000 
Advocate Graduated 
Fee Sceme, 27,000
 
Note: figures have been rounded so may not sum to totals 
Crime higher 
The last few years have seen a gradual decline in volume in the crime higher category (see figure 3).  
These have been driven by a fall in the volume of representations in the Crown Court.  The value of 
payments for completed cases in crime higher has also decreased over the last three years, with falls in 
all categories (figure 4). 
 
 
 
 
11 

 
Figure 3: Number of completed cases within crime higher, Apr-Jun 2011 to Apr-Jun 2014 
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Apr-Jun 2011
Jul-Sep 2011
Oct-Dec 2011
Jan-Mar 2012
Apr-Jun 2012
Jul-Sep 2012
Oct-Dec 2012
Jan-Mar 2013
Apr-Jun 2013
Jul-Sep 2013
Oct-Dec 2013
Jan-Mar 2014
Apr-Jun 2014
Volume ('000s)
4%↓
compared to last year
 
Note: Some payments relating to the first part of 2011-12 were processed in a previous, separate 
payment system from which it is not currently possible to determine the precise timing of case 
completion, and these payments have therefore been excluded. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure 4: The value of completed crime higher cases, Apr-Jun 2011 to Apr-Jun 2014 
0
50
100
150
200
250
Apr-Jun 2011
Jul-Sep 2011
Oct-Dec 2011
Jan-Mar 2012
Apr-Jun 2012
Jul-Sep 2012
Oct-Dec 2012
Jan-Mar 2013
Apr-Jun 2013
Jul-Sep 2013
Oct-Dec 2013
Jan-Mar 2014
Apr-Jun 2014
Value of claim payments (£m)
11%↓
compared to last year
 
Note: Some payments relating to the first part of 2011-12 were processed in a previous, separate 
payment system from which it is not currently possible to determine the precise timing of case 
completion, and these payments have therefore been excluded.  Data on the value of completed cases 
are provisional and subject to change  
12 

 
 
Representations at Crown Court 
The workload in the Crown Court can be broadly split into the following categories: 
Either way offence: An offence which can be tried either before the magistrates’ court or the Crown 
Court.  
Indictable offence: A criminal offence that can only be tried in the Crown Court.  
Committed for sentence: A case where a magistrate decides that the penalties available to them are 
inadequate and commits the case to the crown court for sentencing. 
Appeals: The Crown Court deals with appeals from magistrates’ court against conviction and 
sentence 
The trend in publicly funded representations in the Crown Court is broadly similar to the trend in Crown 
Court disposals2 (see figure 5). The number of representation orders granted between April and June 
2014 has remained relatively stable compared to the same period in 2013. There was a 12 per cent 
increase in the number of orders granted for either way offences, however this was offset by decreases in 
all other areas (see figure 6). 
Figure 5: Representation orders granted and disposals in the Crown Court, Apr-Jun 2011 to Apr-Jun 
2014 
0 
5000 
10000 
15000 
20000 
25000 
30000 
35000 
40000 
Apr-Jun 2011
Jul-Sep 2011
Oct-Dec 2011
Jan-Mar 2012
Apr-Jun 2012
Jul-Sep 2012
Oct-Dec 2012
Jan-Mar 2013
Apr-Jun 2013
Jul-Sep 2013
Oct-Dec 2013
Jan-Mar 2014
Apr-Jun 2014
Volume
orders granted
disposals
 
   
 
                                                
2 Table 3.2 of the main tables in Court Statistics (Quarterly) April to June 2014 
www.gov.uk/government/collections/court-statistics-quarterly 
13 

 
Figure 6: Representation orders granted in the Crown Court, Apr-Jun 2011 to Apr-Jun 2014, by case 
category 
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
16,000
18,000
20,000
Apr‐Jun 2011
Jul‐Sep 2011
Oct‐Dec 2011
Jan‐Mar 2012
Apr‐Jun 2012
Jul‐Sep 2012
Oct‐Dec 2012
Jan‐Mar 2013
Apr‐Jun 2013
Jul‐Sep 2013
Oct‐Dec 2013
Jan‐Mar 2014
Apr‐Jun 2014
Volume (representation orders granted)
Either way offences
Indictable offences
Committed for sentence
Appeals
12%↑
in either way offences 
compared to last year
 
Very High Cost Cases (VHCCs) 
VHCCs are those cases in which, if the case were to proceed to trial, it would be likely to last more than 
60 days.  These cases can span a number of years and while the volumes are relatively small the 
number of related contracts with providers and the amount spent are high in comparison.  The LAA 
makes decisions in relation to authority to incur expenditure for expert reports and runs a High Cost Case 
contracting scheme seeking to limit expenditure on the small number of Crown Court cases that account 
for a large proportion of total expenditure on criminal legal aid. 
Total expenditure on VHCCs between April and June 2014 was £9 million, a reduction of 48 per cent 
compared to the previous year. Falling VHCC costs are due to changes in rates paid and also a reduction 
in the proportion of cases classified as a VHCC due to the threshold being increased from 40 to 60 days 
on 1 April 2013. VHCCs represent less than one per cent of the volume but eight per cent of the overall 
cost of publicly funded cases in the Crown Court. 
For each VHCC opened there may be multiple defendants, each represented by a different provider, with 
separate VHCC contracts. Figure 7 below shows the number of VHCCs opened since April 2011, 
together with the number of individual contracts signed, contracts closed and the total expenditure. 
 
 
 
 
 
14 

 
Figure 7: VHCC workload since 2011-12 
Financial 
year
Quarter
High Cost Crime 
cases opened
High Cost Crime 
contracts opened
High Cost Crime 
contracts closed
High Cost Crime 
expenditure 
(£m)
2011-12
Apr-Jun
4
55
75
Jul-Sep
14
65
62
21
Oct-Dec
9
79
103
28
Jan-Mar
1
28
54
2012-13
Apr-Jun
1
22
81
Jul-Sep
6
32
61
Oct-Dec
5
27
41
Jan-Mar
8
31
39
2013-14
Apr-Jun
5
17
57
Jul-Sep
4
24
37
Oct-Dec
3
24
69
Jan-Mar
0
8
52
11
2014-15
Apr-Jun
0
5
26
20
23
20
16
16
16
18
15
13
9
 
Note: Data on expenditure are provisional and subject to change  
 
The Higher Courts: Court of Appeal and Supreme Court 
Legally aided cases within the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court are counted within crime higher. 
However these figures are not currently available on a quarterly basis.  The latest published figures are 
annual and can be found here: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/legal-aid-statistics-april-2013-to-march-
2014 
 
Crime lower 
There has been a steady decline in the crime lower workload in recent years, although this has stabilised 
in the last 18 months (see figure 8).  The value of completed cases in crime lower has gradually 
decreased over the last three years, with a nine per cent fall this quarter compared to the same period in 
2013 (see figure 9). 
 
 
 
 
 
 
15 

 
Figure 8: Number of cases within crime lower, Apr-Jun 2011 to Apr-Jun 2014  
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
Apr-Jun 2011
Jul-Sep 2011
Oct-Dec 2011
Jan-Mar 2012
Apr-Jun 2012
Jul-Sep 2012
Oct-Dec 2012
Jan-Mar 2013
Apr-Jun 2013
Jul-Sep 2013
Oct-Dec 2013
Jan-Mar 2014
Apr-Jun 2014
Volume (000's) 
5%↓
compared to last year
 
Figure 9: The value of completed crime lower cases, Apr-Jun 2011 to Apr-Jun 2014  
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Apr-Jun 2011
Jul-Sep 2011
Oct-Dec 2011
Jan-Mar 2012
Apr-Jun 2012
Jul-Sep 2012
Oct-Dec 2012
Jan-Mar 2013
Apr-Jun 2013
Jul-Sep 2013
Oct-Dec 2013
Jan-Mar 2014
Apr-Jun 2014
Value of claim payments (000;s)
9%↓
compared to last year
 
Note: Data on the value of completed cases are provisional and subject to change  
Pre-charge suspects 
16 
Pre-charge work made up over 60 per cent of the crime lower workload between April and June 2014.  
Anyone in England and Wales who is interviewed by the police or attends a police station can receive 
advice funded by legal aid either on the telephone or by a solicitor in attendance with the suspect.  The 

 
LAA has limited control over the volume of police station claims. Changes to police numbers and 
priorities will lead to changes in the number of arrests, charges and cautions. 
The overall workload between April and June 2014 fell by 2 per cent compared to the previous year.  
Over the last three years the trend has been gradually decreasing (see figure 10). The trend in police 
recorded crime figures has also been reducing, but the falls in recorded crime have been larger than for 
legal aid pre-charge work3. 
The majority of the pre-charge workload (84% in April to June 2014) consists of suspects receiving legal 
help with a solicitor in attendance at the police station; this has remained stable over the last year.   
There has been a steady decline in telephone advice given with figures in April to June 2014 nearly 30 
per cent lower than the same quarter in 2011.   
Figure 10: Workload with pre-charge suspects, Apr-Jun 2011 to Apr-Jun 2014 
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
Apr-Jun 2011
Jul-Sep 2011
Oct-Dec 2011
Jan-Mar 2012
Apr-Jun 2012
Jul-Sep 2012
Oct-Dec 2012
Jan-Mar 2013
Apr-Jun 2013
Jul-Sep 2013
Oct-Dec 2013
Jan-Mar 2014
Apr-Jun 2014
Volume (closed cases 000's)
Duty/Own Solictor
Other police station work
Telephone advice
pre-charge
2%↓
compared to last 
year
 
Magistrates’ court 
The overall workload in magistrates’ courts where a representation order for legal aid is required fell by 
six per cent this quarter when compared to the previous year.  This is consistent with the trend in the 
magistrates’ court workload which has fallen by 14 per cent in April to June 2014 compared to the same 
period in 2011.  This is driven by the fall in those cases where a representation order is required as these 
cases account for more than 80 per cent of the magistrates’ court workload. Figure 11 shows the number 
of disposals in the magistrates’ court and the number of representation orders granted in the period. 
 
 
                                                
3 www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/crime-stats/crime-statistics/period-ending-december-2013/stb-crime-stats-dec-
2013.html#tab-Overall-level-of-crime 
 
17 

 
Figure 11: Magistrates’ court trends- representation and disposals, Apr-Jun 2011 to Apr-Jun 2014 
0
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
300,000
350,000
400,000
450,000
Apr-Jun 2011
Jul-Sep 2011
Oct-Dec 2011
Jan-Mar 2012
Apr-Jun 2012
Jul-Sep 2012
Oct-Dec 2012
Jan-Mar 2013
Apr-Jun 2013
Jul-Sep 2013
Oct-Dec 2013
Jan-Mar 2014
Apr-Jun 2014
Volume
Representation at Magistrates' court
Disposals
 
Note: Published quarterly disposals data is only available from April 2012     
Prison Law 
In Prison law workload has been decreasing over the last three years (see figure 12).  However, the last 
two quarters have seen larger falls.  In particular, there has been a 36 per cent fall in April to June 2014 
compared to the same period the previous year.    From December 2013, under the Legal Aid Reform 
programme, there were changes to the scope of legal aid available for prison law4, these changes 
appear to have led to larger falls.     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                
4 www.justice.gov.uk/offenders/parole-board 
18 

 
Figure 12: Volume of workload with prison law, Apr-Jun 2011 to Apr-Jun 2014 
0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
8,000
9,000
10,000
Apr‐Jun 2011
Jul‐Sep 2011
Oct‐Dec 2011
Jan‐Mar 2012
Apr‐Jun 2012
Jul‐Sep 2012
Oct‐Dec 2012
Jan‐Mar 2013
Apr‐Jun 2013
Jul‐Sep 2013
Oct‐Dec 2013
Jan‐Mar 2014
Apr‐Jun 2014
Volume (000's)
Advocacy 
assistance at 
parole board 
hearings
Advocacy 
assistance at 
prison 
discipline 
hearings
Free standing 
advice and 
assistance
Prison law
36%↓
compared to last 
year
 
Over 60 per cent of prison law cases between April and June 2014 were for free standing advice and 
assistance. The Parole Board considered 1,200 (19 per cent of prison law cases in April to June 2014) 
cases at a legal aid funded oral hearings and finally the LAA also funded over 1,000(17 per cent of prison 
law cases in April to June 2014) disciplinary hearing claims, which were heard by Independent 
Adjudicators (IAs).  
 
19 

 
Civil legal aid 
Many events and issues in people’s lives require legal assistance, these can be simple phone calls to a 
not for profit advice centre or a long drawn out divorce with attempted mediation and further court 
appearances.  
Legal help is usually the first point of civil legal advice and covers help via telephone, face-to-face and 
not for profit centres. Many of these will then extend into civil representation with full investigations 
undertaken or in court representation given although it is possible to enter straight into civil 
representation. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Civil legal aid is made up of legal help and civil representation.  The way that a case is counted for 
each of these areas is different. 
Legal help- matters started for face to face advice and for the telephone advice service  
Civil representation- representation orders granted 
A wide range of categories of civil law are covered within the legal aid provisions although the availability 
of legal help has changed over time to reflect the changing nature of the civil system. These wide ranging 
categories, including debt, immigration and divorce, and the type of work contained within each are given 
in Annex A.  
The implementation of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act (LASPO) in April 
2013 resulted in large reductions in legal help workloads.  However, trends have begun to stabilise more 
recently, and in the last quarter there was a two percent increase compared to the same period in 2013 
(see table 5.1).  
In civil representation the reductions following the implementation of LASPO were more gradual.  
However, the number of certificates granted for civil representation also seem to be stabilising now.  
Figure 13 shows the number of certificates granted for civil representation and the number of hearings 
and trials from court data.  The trends were broadly similar until the implementation of LASPO, when 
there were large reductions in civil representation workload.  However, in the last few quarters, as civil 
representation workload has stabilised, there are signs that the trends are becoming similar again. 
20 

 
Figure 13: Civil representation trends- certificates granted and total number of hearings and trials, Apr-
Jun 2011 to Apr-Jun 2014 
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
30000
35000
40000
45000
Apr-Jun 2011
Jul-Sep 2011
Oct-Dec 2011
Jan-Mar 2012
Apr-Jun 2012
Jul-Sep 2012
Oct-Dec 2012
Jan-Mar 2013
Apr-Jun 2013
Jul-Sep 2013
Oct-Dec 2013
Jan-Mar 2014
Apr-Jun 2014
Volume
Civil rep certificates granted
Total number of hearings and trial
Implementationof LASPO
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
21 

 
Figure 14: Volumes within civil legal aid area, Apr-Jun 2014 
Civil  
65,000 
Family
29,000 
Family (public)
13,000 
Family (private)
6,000 
Family (legal help)
10,000
Mediation
2,000 
Social welfare
16,000 
Community care,  800 
Debt,  400 
Housing,  14,000 
Welfare benefits,  100 
Low volume
3,000 
Actions against the 
police etc.,  700 
Clinical negligence,  200 
Discrimination,  400 
Education,  500 
Miscellaneous,  300 
Tribunals
18,000 
Immigration,  7,000 
Mental health,  11,000 
Public law,  600 
 
Notes: Figures have been rounded so may not sum to totals.  Figures are taken from legal help matters 
started (solicitors, nfps and specialist telephone advice service only) and civil representation certificates 
granted. The figure for family mediation is not included within the Family (private) total.  Figures exclude 
housing possession court duty scheme and telephone operator service. 
 
Family 
The category of family legal aid covers work on both private and public law and includes work associated 
with the Children Act, domestic abuse, financial provision and family mediation. Figures for each category 
are not available for legal help matters. 
22 

 
In legal help there was a large decrease in family cases following the implementation of the LASPO Act.  
However, this seems to be stabilising now.  For civil representation there was a more gradual decrease 
following the implementation of LASPO, but these figures also appear to be stabilising now (figure 15).  
Despite large falls in other areas of the family workload, workload in family public law has remained 
stable.  Family public cases are primarily driven by the issuing of proceedings by individual Local 
Authorities. These cases are non-means and merits tested, and the LAA has no control over the volume 
of these cases. 
Figure 15: Family workload: Legal Help and Civil Representation, Apr-Jun 2011 to Apr-Jun 2014 
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
Apr‐Jun 2011
Jul‐Sep 2011
Oct‐Dec 2011
Jan‐Mar 2012
Apr‐Jun 2012
Jul‐Sep 2012
Oct‐Dec 2012
Jan‐Mar 2013
Apr‐Jun 2013
Jul‐Sep 2013
Oct‐Dec 2013
Jan‐Mar 2014
Apr‐Jun 2014
Workload (000's)
Financial  Year
Legal Help matters started
Civil Representation certificates granted
27%↓
compared to same 
quarter last year
Implementationof LASPO
 
Note: workload has been calculated by adding legal help matters started and civil representation 
certificated granted. 
 
Family Mediation  
The process of settling outside of the court system using alternative dispute resolution is cheaper and 
quicker than using the courts but it also allows for a more flexible approach. Increasingly the courts have 
introduced a mediation stage in proceedings to encourage parties to settle rather than litigate their 
dispute to the end. 
Family mediation allows a neutral mediator help the parties to reach a mutually acceptable compromise 
while conciliation gives the mediator the power to suggest grounds for compromise.  
Arbitration is the voluntary submission by the parties of their dispute to the judgment of a neutral 
arbitrator. Agreement is normally contained in writing in a contract. The main advantages are seen as 
expertise, speed and flexibility and the fact that arbitrations are private. 
 
23 

 
Figure 16: Family mediation; assessments, starts and agreements, Apr-Jun 2011 to Apr-Jun 2014  
-
1,000 
2,000 
3,000 
4,000 
5,000 
6,000 
7,000 
8,000 
9,000 
10,000 
Apr-Jun 2011
Jul-Sep 2011
Oct-Dec 2011
Jan-Mar 2012
Apr-Jun 2012
Jul-Sep 2012
Oct-Dec 2012
Jan-Mar 2013
Apr-Jun 2013
Jul-Sep 2013
Oct-Dec 2013
Jan-Mar 2014
Apr-Jun 2014
Volume
Assessments
-
500 
1,000 
1,500 
2,000 
2,500 
3,000 
3,500 
4,000 
4,500 
Apr-Jun 2011
Jul-Sep 2011
Oct-Dec 2011
Jan-Mar 2012
Apr-Jun 2012
Jul-Sep 2012
Oct-Dec 2012
Jan-Mar 2013
Apr-Jun 2013
Jul-Sep 2013
Oct-Dec 2013
Jan-Mar 2014
Apr-Jun 2014
Volume
Starts
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
Apr-Jun 2011
Jul-Sep 2011
Oct-Dec 2011
Jan-Mar 2012
Apr-Jun 2012
Jul-Sep 2012
Oct-Dec 2012
Jan-Mar 2013
Apr-Jun 2013
Jul-Sep 2013
Oct-Dec 2013
Jan-Mar 2014
Apr-Jun 2014
Volume
Agreements (full and partial)
 
The use of mediation has fallen since the implementation of LASPO in April 2013.  On the 22 April 2014 
changes from the Children and Families Act came into effect. The Act made it a requirement for 
24 

 
separating couples to attend a meeting to find out about mediation before the dispute can be taken to 
court (unless exemptions apply – such as in cases of domestic violence).  There has been an increase in 
the number of mediation assessments in April to June 2014, compared to the previous quarter, but this 
has yet to filter through to starts and agreements.  
  
Non-family – social welfare law (SWL) 
The social welfare law categories include community care, debt, housing and welfare benefits.  This area 
was impacted by the LASPO Act changes and this is reflected in the statistics for the last year.   
There were large falls in social welfare volumes following the implementation of LASPO, however, the 
figures have stabilised in recent quarters and there was a four per cent increase in the latest quarter 
compared with the previous year.   
In this quarter housing was the largest volume area, making up 91 per cent of social welfare, with 
community care making up a further five per cent. 
Figure 17: Workload in non-family social welfare law, Apr-Jun 2011 to Apr-Jun 2014  
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Apr-Jun 2011
Jul-Sep 2011
Oct-Dec 2011
Jan-Mar 2012
Apr-Jun 2012
Jul-Sep 2012
Oct-Dec 2012
Jan-Mar 2013
Apr-Jun 2013
Jul-Sep 2013
Oct-Dec 2013
Jan-Mar 2014
Apr-Jun 2014
Volume (000's)
Community care
Debt
Employment
Housing
Welfare benefits
4%↑
compared to the same 
quarter last year
Implementationof LASPO
 
Note: workload has been calculated by adding legal help matters started and civil representation 
certificated granted. 
 
Non-family – low volume (LV) 
This category differs from other civil and family categories as need is thinly distributed within the 
population, and demand is greatly influenced by the location and advice provided by low volume 
providers. They cover actions against the police, clinical negligence, consumer and general contract, 
25 

 
education, personal injury, civil liberties (public law) and other meritorious cases.  Individually, workload 
on the low volume categories is so low that it is difficult to see specific trends.  
Figure 18: Workload in low volume, Apr-Jun 2013 to Apr-Jun 2014 
Apr-Jun 
2013
Jul-Sep 
2013
Oct-Dec 
2013
Jan-Mar 
2014
Apr-Jun 
2014
Low Volume
3,384
2,730
2,247
2,465
2,747
Actions against the police etc.
875
715
641
746
729
Clinical negligence
591
202
166
186
188
Consumer
42
10
2
0
0
Discrimination
735
671
430
469
409
Education
382
305
243
266
477
Personal injury
2
3
0
0
0
Public law
640
734
691
601
613
Miscellaneous
117
90
74
197
331  
Note: workload has been calculated by adding legal help matters started and civil representation 
certificated granted. 
The changes to scope in the LASPO Act and previous changes have meant that the volume of personal 
injury workload has reduced. Other areas affected by the LASPO Act and showing large falls are clinical 
negligence and education (see table 5.1).    
In April to June 2014 there have been large falls in clinical negligence and discrimination compared to the 
same quarter in 2013 (see figure18).  
Tribunals 
Legal aid in these categories (mental health and immigration & asylum) covers representation at a 
tribunal. 
Mental health 
Within mental health the majority of funding is applied in providing assistance to sectioned clients 
appealing the terms of their detention before a mental health tribunal. There is a statutory duty to provide 
advice and representation in these cases, and they are funded without reference to a client's means. The 
number of providers carrying out this work is small compared with other categories. Providers have to 
travel to discrete NHS and private hospital locations to advise high priority detained clients. 
Over the last three years there has been a gradual increase in the volume of legally aided mental health 
tribunals.  However, in recent quarters, this has stabilised. (see figure 19). 
Immigration 
Under the changes made in the LASPO Act, some immigration cases are no longer in scope for legal aid.  
However, after the initial falls following implementation in April 2013, figures have now stabilised.  
 
 
 
 
 
26 

 
 
Figure 19: Workload in mental health and immigration, Apr-Jun 2011 to Apr-Jun 2014 
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
16,000
18,000
20,000
Apr‐Jun 2011
Jul‐Sep 2011
Oct‐Dec 2011
Jan‐Mar 2012
Apr‐Jun 2012
Jul‐Sep 2012
Oct‐Dec 2012
Jan‐Mar 2013
Apr‐Jun 2013
Jul‐Sep 2013
Oct‐Dec 2013
Jan‐Mar 2014
Apr‐Jun 2014
Volume
Immigration
Mental health
no change
compared to same 
quarter last year
Implementationof LASPO
 
Note: workload has been calculated by adding legal help matters started and civil representation 
certificated granted. 
 
 
 
27 

 
28 
Exceptional Case Funding: applications and 
determinations 
Clause 10 of the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) introduced the 
practice of applying for Exceptional Case Funding (ECF) from 1 April 2013. 
An ECF application for civil legal services is made where a case falls outside the scope of legal aid but 
the client or conducting solicitor believes there is evidence to support there being a requirement to 
provide funding because failure to do so would be a breach of, or having regard to any risk that failure to 
do so would be such a breach of, their Convention rights (within the meaning of the Human Rights Act 
1998), or any rights of the individual to the provision of legal services that are enforceable EU rights.  
An ECF determination can only be granted if: 
 
the above exceptional case criteria are met, and  
 
the relevant criteria set out in the Civil Legal Aid  (Merits Criteria) Regulations are met, and  
 
the relevant criteria set out in the Civil Legal Aid (Financial Resources and Payment for Services) 
Regulations are met 
Part 8 of the Civil Legal Aid (Procedure) Regulations 2012 informs that there are particular exceptions 
that apply to the procedures of ECF.  There is no appeal provision; only a right to an internal review, 
there is no emergency provision, or delegated functions.  There is however a provision that allows an 
ECF determination to take effect from a date earlier than the actual date of the determination.  
Unlike other legal aid applications, Clients can make ECF applications directly to the Legal Aid Agency 
(LAA).  If the ECF application sent directly by the Client is likely to be granted their application is given a 
Positive Preliminary View, subject to a full ECF Application being submitted in conjunction with a legal aid 
provider.  
The Director of Legal Aid Casework determines which individual qualifies for services in accordance with 
the Act.  To ensure that decisions are made independently and in accordance with the relevant legal aid 
legislation, the Director has put in place a robust organisational structure within the LAA. The LAA ECF 
Team was set up to assess ECF applications made under Clause 10 of LASPO from 1 April 2013.   
Applications 
There were 270 applications for ECF between April 2014 and June 2014; this was a similar number of 
applications to the same period the previous year, but a reduction of 99 (27%) from the previous three 
month period.   
The majority of ECF applications were new (77%).  The average turnaround time for assessing new ECF 
applications during April 2014 to June 2014 was nine working days.  There were 61 applications for 
review; for these the average turnaround time was seven working days (see figure 20).   
 
 
 

 
Figure 20: ECF applications, new or review and mean turnaround time, April to June 2014. 
77%
23%
New
Review
0
5
10
15
20
25
review
new
Working days
Turnaround 
time
Target
 
Note: the turnaround time mean averages given above exclude cases currently awaiting assessment. 
The turnaround time for each ECF application starts on the date it is received by the LAA ECF Team and 
finishes when the case has been dealt with. 
Of the total ECF applications, family, inquest and immigration were the most requested categories of law. 
There were 125 applications in the family category, 67 applications in the inquest category, and 44 
applications in the immigration category and (see figure 21) 
Figure 21: ECF applications received by category of law, April to June 2014. 
0
50
100
150
Inquiry/Tribunal
PI/Clinical …
Housing/Land Law
Welfare Benefits
Other
Immigration
Inquest
Family
Applications received
 
12 ECF applications (4%) were made directly by the client, without solicitors formally submitting 
applications on their behalf.  ECF applications are the only legal aid applications that can be submitted 
directly by a client.  The remaining 258 applications (96%) were made by Legal Aid providers.  
Determinations 
265 of the 270 ECF applications received between April and June 2014 were determined by the LAA with 
a further 5 awaiting assessment as at 31 August 2014.  37 (14%) of determinations were granted and 
180 (68%) were refused, with the remained rejected or withdrawn (see figure 22).  The majority of 
29 

 
applications granted were for inquest category cases (see figure 23).  The number and proportion of ECF 
applications being granted has increased every quarter since April 2013.   
Figure 22: Assessment of ECF applications received and determinations made, April to June 2014. 
Applications 
Received    
270
Determinations 
265(98%)
Granted 
37(14%*)
Refused 
180(68%*)
Rejected 
45(17%*)
Withdrawn 
3(1%*)
Awaiting 
assessment         
5(2%)
 
*as a percentage of determinations 
Figure 23: ECF applications received, by category of law and by determination, April to June 2014. 
Area of Law
Positive 
Preliminary 
View Awaiting Granted
Refused
Rejected
Withdrawn
Total
Family
0
0
7
95
20
3
125
Inquest
0
1
23
33
10
0
67
Immigration
0
3
7
28
6
0
44
Other
0
0
0
18
9
0
27
Welfare Benefits
0
0
0
3
0
0
3
Housing/Land Law
0
1
0
1
0
0
2
Inquiry/Tribunal
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
PI/Clinical Negligence
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
Total
0
5
37
180
45
3
270  
30 

 
31 
Annual updates 
Statistics on the following topics are updated on an annual basis, in the Legal Aid Statistics bulletin 
published following the final (January to March) quarter of the financial year. 
Appealing decisions 
This section of the report is updated annually as only partial data is available on a quarterly basis.  The 
most recent annual publication can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/legal-aid-
statistics-april-2013-to-march-2014 
 
Provider Information 
This section of the report is updated annually.  The most recent annual publication can be found here: 
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/legal-aid-statistics-april-2013-to-march-2014.   
Provider figures for 2013-14 in the last annual publication were incorrect at the time of publication and 
have since been revised.  
 
Clients of Legal Aid 
This section of the report is updated annually.  The most recent annual publication can be found here: 
www.gov.uk/government/statistics/legal-aid-statistics-april-2013-to-march-2014.   
 
Timeliness 
This section of the report is updated annually.  The most recent annual publication can be found here: 
www.gov.uk/government/statistics/legal-aid-statistics-april-2013-to-march-2014.   
 
 

 
32 
Data Sources and Data Quality 
This section outlines the different data sources used to compile the statistics presented in the bulletin 
with discussion on data quality where relevant.  
The main sources of the statistics are compiled from administrative systems designed for the accurate 
management of the legal aid system.  
There are many administrative systems used to create the statistics covering each of the main areas of 
legal aid: 
 
Within crime higher figures are drawn from two systems: 
‐ 
Litigator Graduated Fee Scheme ( LGFS) called Crown Court Legal Fees (CCLF)  
‐ 
Advocate Graduated Fee Scheme (AGFS) called Crown Court Remuneration (CCR)  
They provide the value of completed cases and volume of cases information for much of the 
Crime Higher data. This is supported with information from the Means Assessment Admin Tool 
(MAAT) giving information on the granting of legal aid. 
High cost case information is drawn from the Complex Crime Unit (CCU) and their administrative 
system. 
 
For crime lower data is taken from the Contracted Work and Administration system and 
supported with information from the Means Assessment Admin Tool (MAAT) giving information on 
the granting of legal aid. 
 
For civil representation the figures are obtained from the Corporate Information Store (CIS), 
Client and case management system (CCMS) and their associated supporting systems. 
 
For legal help, information is provided by the CWA system and its management information and 
the telephone advice service starts, receipts and determinations. 
 
For Exceptional Case Funding (ECF) information is drawn from the ECF team’s live 
administrative database.  
While the majority of information is held within source administrative systems some information is 
provided from other non-database sources including data on telephone advice, community legal advice 
centres and the housing court duty solicitor scheme. 
As with any large administrative data source, users should bear in mind that data on legal aid may be 
subject to errors due to incorrect data entry or inconsistent recording practices. 
Revisions 
In accordance with Principle 2 of the Code of Practice for Office Statistics, the MoJ is required to publish 
transparent guidance on its policy for revisions. A copy of this statement can be found at: 
www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/statistics/mojstats/statistics-revisions-policy.pdf  
The three reasons specified for statistics needing to be revised are changes in sources of administrative 
systems or methodology changes, receipt of subsequent information, and errors in statistical systems 

 
33 
and processes. Each of these points, and its specific relevance to the legal aid statistics publication, are 
addressed below: 
Changes in source of administrative systems or methodology changes 
The data within this publication come from a variety of administrative systems. The document will present 
where there have been revisions to data accountable to switches in methodology or administrative 
systems with statistics affected within the publication appropriately footnoted. 
Receipt of subsequent information 
The nature of any administrative system is that data may be received late. For the purposes of these 
legal aid statistics, the late data will be reviewed on a quarterly basis and revisions will be made each 
quarter.  
Errors in statistical systems and processes 
Occasionally errors can occur in statistical processes; procedures are constantly reviewed to minimise 
this risk. Should a significant error be found the publication on the website will be updated and an errata 
slip published documenting the revision. 
 

 
34 
Tables 
Summary 
Table 1.1 
Legal aid criminal workload summary since 2001-02 
Table 1.2 
Legal aid civil workload summary since 2001-02 
Criminal legal aid 
Table 2.1 
Crime lower workload (count) 
Table 2.2 
Crime lower workload (value) 
Table 3.1 
Magistrates' courts: legal aid applications and grants 
Table 3.2 
Crown Court: legal aid applications and grants 
Table 4.1 
Crime higher workload 
Table 4.2 
Litigator Graduated Fee Scheme (LGFS) 
Table 4.3 
Advocate Graduated Fee Scheme (AGFS) 
Table 4.5 
High Cost Crime cases 
Civil legal aid 
Table 5.1 
Legal help matters started (count) 
Table 5.2 
Legal help matters completed – Solicitors and NfP only (count) 
Table 6.1 
Civil representation, applications received 
Table 6.2 
Civil representation, certificates granted 
Table 6.3 
Civil representation, certificates completed 
Table 6.4 
Civil representation costs met by LAA 
Table 6.5 
Civil representation costs met by opponent 
Table 7.1 
Mediation assessment 
Table 7.2 
Mediations 
Table 8.1 
Exceptional Case Funding 
 
 
 
 

 
35 
Guidance on tables and supplementary information. 
In addition to the supplementary excel tables, and in line with the MoJ commitment to provide information 
in a reusable format there are accompanying csv files published containing historical data for further 
manipulation by users. All these workbooks and CSV files can be accessed at:  
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/legal-aid-statistics 
Symbols and conventions 
The following symbols have been used throughout the tables in this bulletin: 
0 = Nil  
- = Not applicable  
.. = Not available  
 
Data before 2010-11 have not been updated from previous versions of this report.  Data for 2011-12 and 
2012-13 have been updated and may be different to previous publications as data are taken from a live 
database. 
 
 
 
 

 
Table 1.1: Legal aid criminal workload summary since 2001-02
Volume of criminal work in legal aid 2001-02 to 2013-14, with quarterly data for Apr-Jun 2011 to Jan-Mar 2014
Crime lower
Financial Year Quarter
Representation 
at Crown Court 
Litigator 
Graduated Fee 
Scheme1
Representation 
at Crown Court 
Advocate 
Graduated Fee 
Scheme1,2
Very high 
cost cases
Court of 
Appeal and 
Supreme 
Court
Crime higher 
total
2001-02
1,685,094
..
..
..
 .. 
2002-03
1,549,626
..
..
..
 .. 
2003-04
1,579,751
..
..
..
 .. 
2004-05
1,505,674
..
..
..
 .. 
2005-06
1,528,383
..
..
..
 .. 
2006-07
1,462,987
..
..
56
 .. 
2007-08
1,381,424
..
..
54
 .. 
2008-09
1,521,547
..
..
63
 .. 
2009-10
1,501,142
126,143
..
55
 .. 
2010-11
1,429,069
130,459
..
33
 .. 
2011-12
1,331,200
132,570
114,020
28
5,778
        138,376 
2012-13
1,233,065
123,120
120,042
20
5,643
        128,783 
2013-14
1,203,341
111,927
118,344
12 
4,906
        116,845 
2011-12
Apr-Jun
330,779
25,621
13,499
4 
..
 .. 
Jul-Sep
348,429
41,872
28,075
14
..
 .. 
Oct-Dec
323,979
27,202
34,377
9
..
 .. 
Jan-Mar
328,013
37,875
38,069
1
..
..
2012-13
Apr-Jun
307,431
32,480
31,005
1
..
 .. 
Jul-Sep
319,543
29,737
30,065
6
..
 .. 
Oct-Dec
299,928
31,993
29,898
5
..
 .. 
Jan-Mar
306,163
28,910
29,074
8
..
..
2013-14
Apr-Jun
302,467
27,822
29,051
5
..
 .. 
Jul-Sep
306,481
28,616
29,575
4
..
 .. 
Oct-Dec
295,500
28,889
29,745
3
..
 .. 
Jan-Mar
298,893
26,600
29,973
0
..
..
2014-15
Apr-Jun
287,809
27,557
26,890
0
..
..
1 Figures before the higher crime schemes transferred to the Legal Aid Agency are not available
2 The figures for AGFS for 2011-12 are only partial due to the phased rollout of payments made by LAA
Crime higher
 
36 

 
37 
Table 1.2: Civil legal aid workload summary since 2001-02
Volume of civil work in legal aid 2001-02 to 2013-14, with quarterly data for Apr-Jun 2011 to Apr-Jun 2014
Legal help1
Civil representation
Financial Year Quarter
New 
matters 
started2
Completed 
matters
Housing 
Possession 
court duty 
scheme
Telephone 
Operator 
Service
Community 
legal 
advice 
centre
Applications 
received
Certificates 
granted
Certificates 
closed3
2001-02
764,697
748,890
-
-
-
..
..
..
2002-03
811,848
798,033
..
-
-
..
..
..
2003-04
709,769
756,569
..
-
-
..
..
..
2004-05
654,267
715,837
..
..
..
..
..
..
2005-06
783,455
786,522
..
..
..
..
..
..
2006-07
851,023
876,071
..
..
..
191,444
       
157,719
     
..
2007-08
807,459
735,436
..
..
..
173,190
       
144,865
     
..
2008-09
886,862
756,446
33,842
235,947
6,950
183,438
       
152,657
     
153,303
       
2009-10
933,816
906,073
31,831
290,574
9,538
203,329
       
168,403
     
137,684
       
2010-11
785,396
813,043
29,625
264,339
18,515
187,591
       
153,603
     
129,553
       
2011-12
679,711
674,539
33,752
200,737
25,588
176,375
       
148,279
     
138,131
       
2012-13
573,632
602,133
33,575
154,945
18,816
191,124
       
150,472
     
137,288
       
2013-14
172,846
319,819
46,160
161,915
-
117,434
       
108,100
     
147,704
       
2011-12 
Apr-Jun
171,392
174,774
..
..
..
42,787
        
34,868
       
31,257
        
Jul-Sep
177,135
166,396
..
..
..
45,623
        
37,576
       
36,844
        
Oct-Dec
155,334
161,336
..
..
..
43,403
        
37,528
       
34,181
        
Jan-Mar
175,850
172,033
..
..
..
44,562
        
38,307
       
35,849
        
2012-13
Apr-Jun
154,291
156,220
..
..
..
43,543
        
36,139
       
34,498
        
Jul-Sep
153,800
154,587
..
..
..
45,516
        
37,791
       
32,934
        
Oct-Dec
131,076
145,499
..
..
..
44,278
        
36,452
       
34,748
        
Jan-Mar
134,465
145,827
..
..
..
57,787
        
40,090
       
35,108
        
2013-14
Apr-Jun
41,280
108,939
..
..
..
35,349
        
34,779
       
36,551
        
Jul-Sep
43,791
82,327
..
..
..
27,218
        
25,156
       
35,255
        
Oct-Dec
41,897
66,239
..
..
..
27,567
        
23,558
       
36,551
        
Jan-Mar
45,878
62,314
..
..
..
27,300
        
24,607
       
39,347
        
2014-15
Apr-Jun
42,205
51,080
..
..
-
26,512
        
23,149
       
33,938
        
1 Figures exclude determinations made by Specialist telephone advice service (available in the underlying data file)
2 Figures exclude Housing possession court duty scheme, Telephone operator service and Community legal advice centre
3 Data does not include cases completed in the LAA’s new administrative system, including these would raise completed volumes by an estimated 0.7% and total value by less than 0.5%.
 

 
38 
Table 2.1: Crime lower workload (count)
Case volume for crime lower 2011-12 to 2013-14, with quarterly data for Jul-Sep 2011 to Apr-Jun 2014 (data available from 2001-02 in accompanying Excel tables)
Financial Year
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
2014-15
Quarter
Jul-Sep
Oct-Dec
Jan-Mar
Apr-Jun
Jul-Sep
Oct-Dec
Jan-Mar
Apr-Jun
Jul-Sep
Oct-Dec
Jan-Mar
Apr-Jun
Pre-charge suspects
792,704
733,741
736,282
208,710
191,396
190,988
182,620
190,804
178,556
181,761
183,560
187,748
181,549
183,425
179,900
Attendance
641,727
608,369
616,178
168,482
154,035
156,869
150,460
157,532
148,081
152,296
153,231
156,936
151,462
154,549
151,409
Attendance on immigration issues
39
34
52
8
11
8
10
8
7
9
8
13
16
15
26
Duty solicitor standby (claims)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Telephone advice only
27,899
22,421
20,698
7,489
6,455
6,618
6,026
5,882
5,244
5,269
5,293
5,324
4,945
5,136
4,762
Telephone advice admin costs
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
CDS Direct telephone advice
115,497
96,738
94,627
30,796
29,060
25,628
24,564
25,720
23,792
22,662
23,785
24,250
24,020
22,572
22,652
Free standing advice and assistance (not in police station)
7,086
5,761
4,360
1,810
1,724
1,748
1,456
1,535
1,339
1,431
1,150
1,119
1,033
1,058
969
Warrants of further detention
456
418
367
125
111
117
104
127
93
94
93
106
73
95
82
Charged defendants1
15,588
15,972
12,965
3,962
3,790
4,022
3,995
4,095
3,941
3,941
3,553
3,428
2,973
3,011
2,674
Post charge police station advice and assistance
1,580
1,260
1,112
386
375
374
328
317
300
315
320
319
245
228
224
Refused means test form completion fee
1,582
1,591
1,351
379
393
411
377
431
429
354
340
314
364
333
301
Early cover
2,783
2,796
2,193
739
696
662
703
708
727
658
594
544
511
544
454
Preparation: representation order refused
3,974
3,662
3,066
1,074
934
994
937
937
876
912
751
836
707
772
614
Advice and assistance
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Advocacy assistance
756
699
616
216
159
168
167
160
195
177
194
178
120
124
122
Assistance by way of representation
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Appeals, reviews and other courts
3,628
4,270
3,387
881
910
1,014
1,095
1,109
1,009
1,057
1,004
882
744
757
782
Civil assistance on criminal matters
1,280
1,693
1,240
286
322
398
387
433
405
468
350
355
282
253
177
Firms claiming for file review payments
5
1
-
1
1
1
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Early first or administrative hearings
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Free standing advice and assistance
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Extended court sitting hours pilot
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Representation at Magistrates' court2
480,105
442,029
418,680
125,132
118,203
121,644
110,191
114,408
107,187
110,243
105,504
106,174
102,309
104,693
98,905
Lower standard fees
321,205
291,658
273,470
83,687
78,506
81,527
73,168
75,459
70,231
72,800
68,906
69,781
65,946
68,837
64,425
Higher standard fees
57,747
54,398
52,652
14,713
14,137
15,412
13,834
13,590
13,314
13,660
13,194
13,136
12,946
13,376
12,434
Non-standard fees and exempt cases
18,237
18,154
17,755
5,278
4,845
4,310
3,935
5,419
4,342
4,458
4,455
4,236
4,933
4,131
4,105
Second claims for deferred sentencing
881
897
712
163
253
301
235
194
236
232
193
175
170
174
189
Court duty solicitor (sessions)
82,035
76,922
74,091
21,291
20,462
20,094
19,019
19,746
19,064
19,093
18,756
18,846
18,314
18,175
17,752
Prison law
42,803
41,323
35,414
10,625
10,590
11,359
10,625
10,236
10,244
10,218
9,850
9,131
8,669
7,764
6,330
Free standing advice and assistance
34,636
33,268
26,744
8,607
8,673
9,155
8,646
8,291
8,226
8,105
7,603
7,062
6,559
5,520
4,038
Advocacy assistance at prison discipline hearings
4,353
4,020
4,192
1,113
956
1,170
993
974
966
1,087
1,083
1,037
1,031
1,041
1,092
Advocacy assistance at parole board hearings
3,814
4,035
4,478
905
961
1,034
986
971
1,052
1,026
1,164
1,032
1,079
1,203
1,200
1 No representation required or refused
2 Figures include Court duty solicitor sessions
Underlying data further breakdowns available on:  detailed types of work available
2012-13
2013-14
2011-12
 

 
39 
Table 2.2: Crime lower workload (value £'000)
Values for crime lower 2011-12 to 2013-14, with quarterly data for Jul-Sep 2011 to Apr-Jun 2014 (data available from 2001-02 in accompanying Excel tables)
Financial Year
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
2014-15
Quarter
Jul-Sep
Oct-Dec
Jan-Mar
Apr-Jun
Jul-Sep
Oct-Dec
Jan-Mar
Apr-Jun
Jul-Sep
Oct-Dec
Jan-Mar
Apr-Jun
Pre-charge suspects
169,445
160,124
160,698
44,184
40,813
41,292
39,639
41,221
39,371
39,893
40,118
41,026
39,396
40,159
37,093
Attendance
161,219
153,138
154,945
42,297
38,750
39,404
37,852
39,636
37,248
38,401
38,610
39,480
38,140
38,715
35,687
Attendance on immigration issues
10
10
12
2
3
2
3
2
2
2
2
3
4
4
6
Duty solicitor standby (claims)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Telephone advice only
1,042
839
780
282
241
246
225
219
200
195
200
203
185
192
170
Telephone advice admin costs
3,285
3,086
2,605
596
836
727
735
496
1,190
665
709
733
490
672
684
CDS Direct telephone advice
2,614
1,959
1,490
702
657
583
555
582
467
356
378
377
372
363
355
Free standing advice and assistance (not in police station)
1,191
1,006
795
283
305
308
249
258
242
257
199
209
191
196
177
Warrants of further detention
84
85
71
21
21
21
20
27
21
17
19
20
14
18
14
Charged defendants1
5,748
6,950
5,347
1,458
1,580
1,458
1,757
1,841
1,639
1,713
1,474
1,390
1,183
1,300
1,213
Post charge police station advice and assistance
159
133
125
37
41
39
34
30
31
39
35
37
28
24
24
Refused means test form completion fee
47
48
40
11
12
12
11
13
13
11
10
9
11
10
9
Early cover
250
251
197
66
63
60
63
64
65
59
53
49
46
49
39
Preparation: representation order refused
225
209
175
61
53
56
53
54
50
52
43
47
40
44
33
Advice and assistance
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Advocacy assistance
279
208
203
88
56
53
55
49
58
47
68
56
36
42
40
Assistance by way of representation
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Appeals, reviews and other courts
4,333
5,525
4,174
1,090
1,246
1,103
1,401
1,492
1,284
1,348
1,146
1,066
926
1,035
1,012
Civil assistance on criminal matters
434
556
432
102
109
129
121
139
138
158
118
125
95
95
56
Firms claiming for file review payments
21
19
-
3
1
6
19
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Early first or administrative hearings
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Free standing advice and assistance
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Extended court sitting hours pilot
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Representation at Magistrates' court2
210,892
198,411
190,230
54,969
53,281
53,757
48,558
51,975
48,053
49,824
47,663
47,513
47,618
47,437
43,442
Lower standard fees
103,107
95,147
89,785
26,362
25,687
26,720
23,896
24,519
22,945
23,786
22,586
22,817
21,732
22,649
20,044
Higher standard fees
51,331
47,553
46,163
13,079
12,661
13,598
12,113
11,826
11,691
11,923
11,538
11,540
11,361
11,723
10,662
Non-standard fees and exempt cases
33,243
33,487
32,182
9,528
9,130
7,619
7,103
9,964
7,902
8,518
7,959
7,562
9,043
7,619
7,655
Second claims for deferred sentencing
290
316
240
50
86
100
85
64
85
82
66
62
58
55
62
Court duty solicitor (sessions)
22,922
21,908
21,860
5,950
5,716
5,719
5,361
5,602
5,431
5,515
5,513
5,533
5,424
5,390
5,019
Prison law
22,685
21,295
20,008
5,612
5,403
5,923
5,423
5,194
5,358
5,320
5,358
5,033
4,910
4,707
4,034
Free standing advice and assistance
12,804
11,839
9,873
3,186
3,101
3,305
3,074
2,886
2,940
2,939
2,746
2,605
2,423
2,098
1,520
Advocacy assistance at prison discipline hearings
2,019
1,758
1,701
534
415
505
428
426
433
472
431
424
434
412
413
Advocacy assistance at parole board hearings
7,863
7,697
8,434
1,893
1,886
2,114
1,921
1,882
1,985
1,909
2,181
2,004
2,052
2,197
2,101
1 No representation required or refused
2 Figures include Court duty solicitor sessions
Underlying data further breakdowns available on:  detailed types of work split available
2012-13
2013-14
2011-12
 

 
Table 3.1: Magistrates' court: legal aid applications and grants
Number of applications and number granted for legal aid funding for cases heard at the magistrates' courts, 2010-11 to 2013-14, 
with quarterly data for Apr-Jun 2011 to Apr-Jun 2014 
Financial 
Year
Quarter
Volume of 
applications
Volume 
granted
Volume of 
applications
Volume 
granted
Volume of 
applications
Volume 
granted
Volume of 
applications
Volume 
granted
Volume of 
applications
Volume 
granted
2010-11
202,289
185,015
191,810
180,914
9,268
8,795
71,244
66,072
474,611
440,796
2011-12
222,580
203,878
214,481
203,770
14,164
13,392
21
18
451,246
421,058
2012-13
199,823
183,206
196,915
187,271
12,677
11,914
19
19
409,434
382,410
2013-14
183,163
169,070
200,234
192,377
10,018
9,525
32
31
393,447
371,003
2011-12
Apr-Jun
55,816
51,021
52,855
50,033
3,265
3,086
11
8
111,947
104,148
Jul-Sep
59,717
54,873
56,241
53,475
3,845
3,628
5
5
119,808
111,981
Oct-Dec
52,068
47,640
52,144
49,617
3,503
3,330
2
2
107,717
100,589
Jan-Mar
54,979
50,344
53,241
50,645
3,551
3,348
3
3
111,774
104,340
2012-13
Apr-Jun
50,066
45,625
49,007
46,418
3,246
3,030
16
16
102,335
95,089
Jul-Sep
52,619
48,290
51,583
49,022
3,359
3,169
1
1
107,562
100,482
Oct-Dec
47,929
44,020
47,739
45,446
3,115
2,917
98,783
92,383
Jan-Mar
49,209
45,271
48,586
46,385
2,957
2,798
2
2
100,754
94,456
2013-14
Apr-Jun
46,149
42,418
49,747
47,710
2,808
2,658
29
28
98,733
92,814
Jul-Sep
47,850
44,131
50,649
48,568
2,600
2,470
0
0
101,099
95,169
Oct-Dec
43,551
40,280
49,417
47,511
2,459
2,347
1
1
95,428
90,139
Jan-Mar
45,613
42,241
50,421
48,588
2,151
2,050
2
2
98,187
92,881
2014-15
Apr-Jun
42,451
39,503
48,029
46,276
1,819
1,747
1
0
92,300
87,526
1 In some applications the case type is not known and during system introduction this information was not recorded
Underlying data further breakdowns available on: Gender
Unknown1
Total
Summary only 
offences
Either way 
offences
Committal for 
sentence
 
 
40 

 
Table 3.2: Crown Court: legal aid applications and grants
Application grant rate of legal aid funding for cases heard at the Crown Court 2010-11 to 2013-14
with quarterly data for Apr-Jun 2011 to Apr-Jun 2014 
Financial 
Year
Quarter
Volume of 
applications
Volume 
granted
Volume of 
applications
Volume 
granted
Volume of 
applications
Volume 
granted
Volume of 
applications
Volume 
granted
Volume of 
applications
Volume 
granted
2010-11
57,519
57,519
28,779
28,779
11,676
11,268
4,128
3,849
102,102
101,415
2011-12
66,404
66,404
35,878
35,878
19,412
18,763
5,459
5,198
127,153
126,243
2012-13
54,902
54,901
34,077
34,077
18,593
17,909
5,231
5,000
112,803
111,887
2013-14
67,839
67,839
33,837
33,837
17,182
16,575
4,484
4,294
123,342
122,545
2011-12
Apr-Jun
16,887
16,887
7,849
7,849
4,149
4,008
1,226
1,151
30,111
29,895
Jul-Sep
18,607
18,607
9,842
9,842
5,316
5,155
1,352
1,293
35,117
34,897
Oct-Dec
15,399
15,399
9,032
9,032
4,950
4,776
1,475
1,404
30,856
30,611
Jan-Mar
15,511
15,511
9,155
9,155
4,997
4,824
1,406
1,350
31,069
30,840
2012-13
Apr-Jun
13,662
13,662
8,484
8,484
4,699
4,514
1,332
1,272
28,177
27,932
Jul-Sep
14,001
14,001
8,563
8,563
4,951
4,780
1,331
1,270
28,846
28,614
Oct-Dec
13,470
13,470
8,655
8,655
4,508
4,338
1,359
1,299
27,992
27,762
Jan-Mar
13,769
13,768
8,375
8,375
4,435
4,277
1,209
1,159
27,788
27,579
2013-14
Apr-Jun
14,881
14,881
8,932
8,932
4,555
4,401
1,083
1,037
29,451
29,251
Jul-Sep
17,375
17,375
8,514
8,514
4,454
4,293
1,114
1,076
31,457
31,258
Oct-Dec
17,867
17,867
8,163
8,163
4,264
4,124
1,175
1,119
31,469
31,273
Jan-Mar
17,716
17,716
8,228
8,228
3,909
3,757
1,112
1,062
30,965
30,763
2014-15
Apr-Jun
16,714
16,714
7,897
7,897
3,561
3,455
1,005
968
29,177
29,034
1 Appeal cases do not require income contribution but will be required to pay a fixed contribution at the end of their appeal if it is unsuccessful
Underlying data further breakdowns available on: Gender
Total
Appeals1
Either way 
offences
Indictable 
offences
Committal for 
sentence
 
 
41 

 
42 
Table 4.1: Crime higher workload
Case volume, total value and average cost of legal aid funding for the crime higher legal aid scheme
2009-10 to 2013-14, with quarterly data from Apr-Jun 2011 to Apr-Jun 2014
Financial 
Year
Quarter
Litigator 
Graduated 
Fee 
Scheme 
(LGFS)1
Advocate 
Graduated 
Fee 
Scheme 
(AGFS)1
Complex 
Crime 
Unit2,3
Litigator 
Graduated 
Fee 
Scheme 
(LGFS)1
Advocate 
Graduated 
Fee 
Scheme 
(AGFS)1
Complex 
Crime 
Unit2,3
2009-10
261,233
     
..
..
126,143
   
..
..
2010-11
302,964
     
..
..
130,459
   
..
..
2011-12
335,449
     
220,990
    
91,739
     
132,570
   
114,020
   
..
2012-13
312,091
     
240,590
    
67,665
     
123,120
   
120,042
   
..
2013-14
285,585
     
222,826
    
56,776
     
111,927
   
118,344
   
..
2011-12
Apr-Jun
67,439
      
22,484
     
20,236
     
25,621
    
13,499
     
..
Jul-Sep
96,923
      
51,679
     
20,680
     
41,872
    
28,075
     
..
Oct-Dec
71,653
      
68,873
     
27,904
     
27,202
    
34,377
     
..
Jan-Mar
99,435
      
77,953
     
22,919
     
37,875
    
38,069
     
..
2012-13
Apr-Jun
84,115
      
64,774
     
19,794
     
32,480
    
31,005
     
..
Jul-Sep
77,784
      
64,102
     
16,099
     
29,737
    
30,065
     
..
Oct-Dec
78,497
      
57,653
     
16,186
     
31,993
    
29,898
     
..
Jan-Mar
71,696
      
54,060
     
15,585
     
28,910
    
29,074
     
..
2013-14
Apr-Jun
70,668
      
54,797
     
17,822
     
27,822
    
29,051
     
..
Jul-Sep
76,983
      
62,296
     
15,141
     
28,616
    
29,575
     
..
Oct-Dec
68,983
      
51,590
     
13,197
     
28,889
    
29,745
     
..
Jan-Mar
68,951
      
54,143
     
10,616
     
26,600
    
29,973
     
..
2014-15
Apr-Jun
67,488
      
49,986
9,301
       
27,557
    
26,890
     
..
2 The Complex Crime Unit manages all Very High Cost Cases under a criminal legal aid contract
3 No average cost of claims is reported as each contract has multiple staged payments
1 The figures for graduated fee schemes are based on total value of cases that were completed in the relevant 
year, whereas previous published figures were shown on the basis of when payments were made. This change 
has been made to bring the reporting of payments into line with the adjacent figures on volume of cases.  
Some payments relating to the first part of 2011-12 were processed in a previous, separate payment system 
from which it is not currently possible to determine the precise timing of case completion, and these payments 
have therefore been excluded, which reduces the total for the year. For a quarterly breakdown of these figures 
please see tables 4.2 and 4.3
Value (£'000)
Volume of completed cases
 

 
Table 4.2: Litigator Graduated Fee Scheme (LGFS)
Litigator Graduated Fee Scheme (LGFS), volume and value, 2009-10 to 2013-14, with quarterly data from Apr-Jun 2011 to Apr-Jun 2014
Financial 
Year
Quarter
Trial
Cracked 
Trial
Guilty 
Plea
Committal 
for 
Sentence Appeal
Other1
Total 
LGFS
Trial
Cracked 
Trial
Guilty 
Plea
Committal 
for 
Sentence Appeal Other1
Total 
LGFS
2009-102
17,399
31,080
49,132
17,723
6,101
4,708
126,143
132,238
 
78,555
     
42,722
   
5,364
         
1,820
  
533
    
261,233
 
2010-11
20,071
35,846
47,701
15,118
4,912
6,811
130,459
141,873
 
102,719
   
50,750
   
5,146
         
1,705
  
771
    
302,964
 
2011-12
20,968
33,675
47,040
18,879
4,758
7,250
132,570
162,379
 
106,850
   
57,315
   
6,442
         
1,629
  
834
    
335,449
 
2012-13
21,421
28,555
42,645
19,315
4,610
6,574
123,120
175,757
 
81,544
     
45,742
   
6,668
         
1,626
  
754
    
312,091
 
2013-14
19,531
23,619
43,819
16,490
3,795
4,673
111,927
174,126
 
60,745
     
43,142
   
5,691
         
1,333
  
548
    
285,585
 
2011-12
Apr-Jun
4,059
6,748
9,131
3,493
639
1,551
25,621
33,809
   
21,045
     
10,976
   
1,205
         
232
     
173
    
67,439
   
Jul-Sep
6,179
10,604
15,000
6,296
1,842
1,951
41,872
43,078
   
32,526
     
18,376
   
2,119
         
601
     
223
    
96,923
   
Oct-Dec
4,534
6,925
9,692
4,221
1,018
812
27,202
35,521
   
22,237
     
12,002
   
1,437
         
363
     
93
      
71,653
   
Jan-Mar
6,196
9,398
13,217
4,869
1,259
2,936
37,875
49,972
   
31,043
     
15,961
   
1,681
         
433
     
345
    
99,435
   
2012-13
Apr-Jun
5,602
8,308
11,385
4,611
1,042
1,532
32,480
44,016
   
24,992
     
12,965
   
1,604
         
364
     
174
    
84,115
   
Jul-Sep
5,048
6,698
10,195
4,886
1,231
1,679
29,737
44,654
   
20,055
     
10,757
   
1,684
         
436
     
198
    
77,784
   
Oct-Dec
5,706
7,174
11,158
4,989
1,236
1,730
31,993
45,771
   
18,422
     
11,977
   
1,690
         
441
     
196
    
78,497
   
Jan-Mar
5,065
6,375
9,907
4,829
1,101
1,633
28,910
41,316
   
18,075
     
10,044
   
1,690
         
385
     
186
    
71,696
   
2013-14
Apr-Jun
4,983
6,274
10,395
3,987
936
1,247
27,822
42,070
   
16,345
     
10,373
   
1,388
         
339
     
152
    
70,668
   
Jul-Sep
5,135
6,073
10,771
4,412
998
1,227
28,616
48,727
   
15,373
     
10,834
   
1,552
         
353
     
144
    
76,983
   
Oct-Dec
4,909
5,890
11,533
4,288
1,043
1,226
28,889
41,388
   
14,572
     
11,061
   
1,458
         
365
     
140
    
68,983
   
Jan-Mar
4,504
5,382
11,120
3,803
818
973
26,600
41,942
   
14,455
     
10,873
   
1,293
         
275
     
112
    
68,951
   
2014-15
Apr-Jun
4,447
5,661
11,517
3,980
879
1,073
27,557
40,984
   
13,382
     
11,359
   
1,342
         
301
     
120
    
67,488
   
1 The figures for other include Mags Committal fee, Breaches of Crown Court Orders, Elected cases not proceeded, Hearings Subsequent to Sentence and Contempt hearings
2 The figures for LGFS for 2009-10 are only partial as payments only cover Crown Court cases started after January 2008
Underlying data further breakdowns available on: offence type and detailed work type split
Volume
Value (£'000)
 
 
 
 
43 

 
Table 4.3: Advocate Graduated Fee Scheme (AGFS)
Advocate Graduated Fee Scheme (AGFS), volume and value, 2011-12 to 2013-14, with quarterly data from Apr-Jun 2011 to Apr-Jun 2014
Financial 
Year
Quarter
Trial
Cracked 
Trial
Guilty 
Plea
Committal 
for 
Sentence Appeal Other1
Total 
AGFS
Trial
Cracked 
Trial
Guilty 
Plea
Committal 
for 
Sentence Appeal Other1
Total 
AGFS
2011-122
19,113
 
28,120
     
39,472
  
14,281
        
3,632
  
9,402
 
114,020
  
107,565
68,813
38,581
3,184
726
2,121
220,990
2012-13
22,485
 
26,979
     
41,033
  
16,593
        
3,780
  
9,172
 
120,042
  
140,868
58,740
34,647
3,556
749
2,031
240,590
2013-14
22,192
 
23,359
     
44,856
  
15,813
        
3,454
  
8,670
 
118,344
  
138,072
42,592
36,119
3,329
679
2,034
222,826
2011-12
Apr-Jun
1,844
   
3,209
       
4,767
    
1,285
          
388
     
2,006
 
13,499
    
9,550
7,391
4,722
310
81
431
22,484
Jul-Sep
4,315
   
6,934
       
10,178
  
3,873
          
1,043
  
1,732
 
28,075
    
23,722
16,298
10,185
856
200
417
51,679
Oct-Dec
5,993
   
8,337
       
11,898
  
4,253
          
1,064
  
2,832
 
34,377
    
34,354
21,102
11,601
950
219
648
68,873
Jan-Mar
6,961
   
9,640
       
12,629
  
4,870
          
1,137
  
2,832
 
38,069
    
39,939
24,022
12,073
1,068
226
625
77,953
2012-13
Apr-Jun
5,789
   
7,574
       
10,416
  
4,102
          
882
     
2,242
 
31,005
    
36,609
17,207
9,344
909
177
529
64,774
Jul-Sep
5,583
   
6,670
       
10,307
  
4,202
          
994
     
2,309
 
30,065
    
38,622
15,169
8,740
901
199
472
64,102
Oct-Dec
5,815
   
6,592
       
10,446
  
3,975
          
855
     
2,215
 
29,898
    
34,061
13,541
8,585
832
163
471
57,653
Jan-Mar
5,298
   
6,143
       
9,864
    
4,314
          
1,049
  
2,406
 
29,074
    
31,576
12,823
7,979
914
211
559
54,060
2013-14
Apr-Jun
5,683
   
6,245
       
10,733
  
3,609
          
822
     
1,959
 
29,051
    
32,815
11,763
8,883
746
163
427
54,797
Jul-Sep
5,739
   
5,789
       
10,724
  
4,233
          
875
     
2,215
 
29,575
    
41,302
10,617
8,749
898
173
557
62,296
Oct-Dec
5,374
   
5,608
       
11,486
  
4,065
          
920
     
2,292
 
29,745
    
30,858
10,094
9,054
869
182
532
51,590
Jan-Mar
5,396
   
5,717
       
11,913
  
3,906
          
837
     
2,204
 
29,973
    
33,097
10,118
9,433
817
161
517
54,143
2014-15
Apr-Jun
4,873
   
5,146
       
11,190
  
3,143
          
689
     
1,849
 
26,890
    
30,748
9,080
8,896
672
136
455
49,986
1 The figures for other include Mags Committal fee, Breaches of Crown Court Orders, Elected cases not proceeded, Hearings Subsequent to Sentence and Contempt hearings
2 The figures for AGFS for 2011-12 are only partial due to the phased rollout of payments made by LAA
Underlying data further breakdowns available on: offence type and detailed work type split
Volume
Value (£'000)
 
 
 
 
44 

 
45 
Table 4.4: High Cost Crime cases
High Cost Cases- cases opened, contracts opened, contracts, and expenditure, 2006-07 to 2013-14
with quarterly data for Apr-Jun 2011 to Apr-Jun 2014
Financial 
Year
Quarter
High Cost 
Crime Cases 
Opened
High Cost Crime 
Contracts 
Opened
High Cost Crime 
Contracts 
Closed
High Cost Crime 
Expenditure (000's)
2006-07
56
417
426
104,568
                  
2007-08
54
391
399
124,614
                  
2008-09
63
437
433
112,094
                  
2009-10
55
426
313
95,309
                    
2010-11
33
264
460
93,087
                    
2011-12
28
227
294
91,739
                    
2012-13
20
112
222
67,665
                    
2013-14
12
73
215
56,776
                    
2011-12
Apr-Jun
4
55
75
20,236
                    
Jul-Sep
14
65
62
20,680
                    
Oct-Dec
9
79
103
27,904
                    
Jan-Mar
1
28
54
22,919
                    
2012-13
Apr-Jun
1
22
81
19,794
                    
Jul-Sep
6
32
61
16,099
                    
Oct-Dec
5
27
41
16,186
                    
Jan-Mar
8
31
39
15,585
                    
2013-14
Apr-Jun
5
17
57
17,822
                    
Jul-Sep
4
24
37
15,141
                    
Oct-Dec
3
24
69
13,197
                    
Jan-Mar
0
8
52
10,616
                    
2014-15
Apr-Jun
0
5
26
9,301
                     
Underlying data further breakdowns available on: category of work and offence level
 

 
Table 5.1: Legal help matters started
Legal help matters started 1 for 2011-12 to 2013-14, with quarterly data for Jul-Sep 2011 to Apr-Jun 2014 (data available from 2001-02 in accompanying Excel tables)
Financial Year
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
2014-15
Quarter
Jul-Sep
Oct-Dec
Jan-Mar
Apr-Jun
Jul-Sep
Oct-Dec
Jan-Mar
Apr-Jun
Jul-Sep
Oct-Dec
Jan-Mar
Apr-Jun
Total 
679,711
573,632
172,846
177,135
155,334
175,850
154,291
153,800
131,076
134,465
41,280
43,791
41,897
45,878
42,205
Family
232,389
204,251
42,628
60,105
50,239
61,091
53,953
54,584
44,965
50,749
10,167
11,021
10,005
11,435
10,484
Social Welfare
331,978
264,607
52,958
85,213
78,793
85,366
73,387
72,050
61,024
58,146
11,912
13,269
13,225
14,552
12,691
Community care
6,216
4,977
3,280
1,609
1,704
1,397
1,242
1,271
1,185
1,279
899
791
812
778
700
Debt
102,065
76,778
2,434
26,289
23,438
25,940
21,598
20,382
17,757
17,041
679
704
532
519
409
Employment
18,870
15,153
6
4,537
4,567
5,064
4,208
4,052
3,351
3,542
5
1
2
Housing
101,908
85,161
47,101
26,231
24,012
26,736
22,919
23,355
19,924
18,963
10,318
11,763
11,861
13,159
11,449
Welfare benefits
102,919
82,538
137
26,547
25,072
26,229
23,420
22,990
18,807
17,321
11
11
20
95
131
Low Volume
15,031
11,094
7,081
4,138
3,417
3,680
3,346
2,780
2,616
2,352
2,099
1,931
1,455
1,596
1,676
Actions against the police etc.
4,007
2,948
2,229
1,211
871
970
807
735
704
702
643
558
493
535
468
Clinical negligence
3,648
2,859
114
999
764
908
872
783
629
575
51
19
27
17
25
Consumer
550
335
141
153
111
120
87
59
69
Discrimination
2,301
733
671
429
468
409
Education
3,775
2,956
1,153
851
955
1,036
980
663
784
529
368
290
232
263
471
Personal injury
527
317
3
123
110
141
109
67
73
68
1
2
Public law
1,624
1,353
1,096
395
445
418
347
365
311
330
242
338
244
272
271
Miscellaneous
900
326
185
418
119
96
111
80
56
79
61
53
30
41
32
Tribunals
100,313
93,680
70,179
27,679
22,885
25,713
23,605
24,386
22,471
23,218
17,102
17,570
17,212
18,295
17,354
Immigration
60,791
52,386
28,122
17,114
13,364
15,499
13,316
13,761
12,771
12,538
6,633
7,179
6,979
7,331
6,891
Mental health
39,522
41,294
42,057
10,565
9,521
10,214
10,289
10,625
9,700
10,680
10,469
10,391
10,233
10,964
10,463
1 Data include Solicitors, Not for profit organisations and Specialist telephone advice service (excludes Community legal advice centre)
Underlying data further breakdowns available on: Solicitors, Not for profit organisations and Specialist telephone advice service and outcome benefit type
2012-13
2013-14
2011-12
 
 
 
 
 
46 

 
Table 5.2: Legal help matters completed
Legal help matters completed 1 2011-12 to 2013-14, with quarterly data for Jul-Sep 2011 to Apr-Jun 2014 (data available from 2001-02 available in accompanying Excel tables)
Financial Year
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
2014-15
Quarter
Jul-Sep
Oct-Dec
Jan-Mar
Apr-Jun
Jul-Sep
Oct-Dec
Jan-Mar
Apr-Jun
Jul-Sep
Oct-Dec
Jan-Mar
Apr-Jun
Total 
674,539
602,133
319,819
166,396
161,336
172,033
156,220
154,587
145,499
145,827
108,939
82,327
66,239
62,314
51,080
Family
227,580
200,552
117,354
56,757
54,764
59,906
53,297
51,099
47,934
48,222
42,990
30,890
22,627
20,847
15,398
Social Welfare
316,240
284,434
99,964
78,649
75,486
79,687
72,846
74,597
68,963
68,028
38,278
25,252
19,319
17,115
12,997
Community care
4,744
4,531
3,638
1,097
1,221
1,353
1,225
1,044
1,138
1,124
1,041
1,003
815
779
767
Debt
101,232
84,725
17,596
25,523
23,668
24,651
22,216
22,394
19,969
20,146
9,923
4,407
2,113
1,153
544
Employment
17,750
15,891
2,599
3,949
4,306
4,915
3,732
4,777
3,748
3,634
1,116
502
341
640
75
Housing
95,980
87,867
47,655
22,919
23,105
25,015
22,802
22,452
21,599
21,014
12,533
11,075
11,604
12,443
10,824
Welfare benefits
96,534
91,420
28,476
25,161
23,186
23,753
22,871
23,930
22,509
22,110
13,665
8,265
4,446
2,100
787
Low Volume
13,834
11,367
7,634
3,281
3,328
3,560
3,029
2,722
2,649
2,967
2,171
1,937
1,758
1,768
1,370
Actions against the police etc.
3,134
2,532
2,308
745
750
864
679
610
612
631
644
569
566
529
416
Clinical negligence
3,327
3,153
1,185
889
759
835
855
787
728
783
641
292
152
100
68
Consumer
701
468
191
180
155
145
136
134
91
107
73
61
29
28
21
Discrimination
..
..
1,584
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
160
415
406
603
401
Education
3,896
3,191
875
764
979
1,037
817
738
708
928
195
232
247
201
201
Personal injury
727
458
293
213
164
172
112
93
142
111
96
71
71
55
29
Public law
1,321
1,181
1,025
288
364
372
318
262
286
315
301
249
257
218
207
Miscellaneous
728
384
173
202
157
135
112
98
82
92
61
48
30
34
27
Tribunals
116,885
105,780
94,867
27,709
27,758
28,880
27,048
26,169
25,953
26,610
25,500
24,248
22,535
22,584
21,315
Immigration
77,199
62,789
49,197
18,169
17,822
18,401
16,494
15,487
15,372
15,436
14,272
12,921
11,354
10,650
9,937
Mental health
39,686
42,991
45,670
9,540
9,936
10,479
10,554
10,682
10,581
11,174
11,228
11,327
11,181
11,934
11,378
1 Data include Solicitors, Not for profit organisations and Specialist telephone advice service (excludes Community legal advice centre)
Underlying data further breakdowns available on: Solicitors, Not for profit organisations and Specialist telephone advice service and outcome benefit type
2012-13
2013-14
2011-12
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
47 

 
Table 5.3: Legal help matters completed
Completed matters total value 1 of legal aid funding within legal help, 2011-13 to 2012-14, with quarterly data for Jul-Sep 2011 to Apr-Jun 2014 
(data available from 2008-09 available in accompanying Excel tables)
Financial Year
2011-12 2012-13 2013-14
2014-15
Quarter
Jul-Sep Oct-Dec Jan-Mar
Apr-Jun Jul-Sep Oct-Dec Jan-Mar
Apr-Jun Jul-Sep Oct-Dec Jan-Mar
Apr-Jun
Value (£'000s)
Total 
217,838 190,243 135,664
54,068
52,061
54,600
49,370
48,158
45,648
47,067
39,896
34,651
30,802
30,314
25,960
Family
51,036
40,769
26,496
12,848
12,297
13,183
11,309
10,516
9,423
9,521
8,693
6,860
5,543
5,399
4,164
Social Welfare
70,524
60,536
25,937
17,937
16,725
17,613
15,633
15,601
14,453
14,848
9,663
6,542
5,246
4,485
3,256
Community care
2,292
2,256
2,089
564
603
620
620
517
543
576
588
583
470
449
426
Debt
21,257
16,963
4,025
5,514
4,975
5,040
4,523
4,462
3,959
4,019
2,236
994
544
251
132
Employment
5,675
4,487
1,391
1,380
1,349
1,438
1,121
1,255
1,046
1,065
511
340
291
249
41
Housing
21,169
18,413
11,293
5,238
5,068
5,433
4,788
4,726
4,423
4,476
3,153
2,626
2,650
2,863
2,359
Welfare benefits
20,132
18,417
7,139
5,241
4,732
5,083
4,582
4,640
4,483
4,712
3,175
1,999
1,291
674
298
Low Volume
5,996
5,732
4,155
1,482
1,432
1,542
1,348
1,353
1,439
1,592
1,154
1,008
911
1,081
757
Actions against the police etc.
1,598
1,471
1,356
375
386
440
363
364
365
378
363
348
292
352
240
Clinical negligence
1,237
1,288
593
341
279
315
296
330
312
350
293
152
80
69
44
Consumer
150
134
52
40
32
33
37
35
30
32
19
16
7
10
6
Discrimination
..
..
302
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
20
59
57
167
117
Education
1,908
1,919
1,040
461
445
455
433
433
499
554
214
243
279
303
215
Personal injury
247
178
176
77
54
59
31
37
57
53
39
36
50
51
23
Public law
686
651
573
152
188
206
164
135
160
192
182
134
140
118
106
Miscellaneous
169
93
62
35
47
33
25
19
16
33
24
21
5
12
7
Tribunals
90,282
83,206
79,076
21,801
21,607
22,262
21,079
20,688
20,333
21,105
20,386
20,240
19,101
19,348
17,783
Immigration
53,969
45,445
39,190
12,913
12,692
13,066
11,818
11,310
11,119
11,199
10,598
10,387
9,299
8,906
8,047
Mental health
36,313
37,761
39,886
8,888
8,915
9,196
9,261
9,379
9,215
9,907
9,788
9,854
9,802
10,442
9,736
1 Data include Solicitors, Not for profit organisations and Specialist telephone advice service (excludes Community legal advice centre)
Value for specialist telephone advice service only available from 2010-11
Underlying data further breakdowns available on: Solicitors, Not for profit organisations and Specialist telephone advice service and outcome benefit type
2012-13
2013-14
2011-12
 
 
48 

 
49 
Table 6.1: Civil representation, applications received
Applications 1 received for civil representation by category, 2011-12 to 2013-14, with quarterly data for Jul-Sep 2011 to Apr-Jun 2014 
(data available from 2006-07 available in accompanying Excel tables)
Financial Year
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
2014-15
Quarter
Jul-Sep Oct-Dec Jan-Mar
Apr-Jun
Jul-Sep Oct-Dec Jan-Mar
Apr-Jun
Jul-Sep Oct-Dec Jan-Mar
Apr-Jun
Total
176,375
 
191,124
 
117,434
 
45,623
 
43,403
 
44,562
 
43,543
 
45,516
 
44,278
 
57,787
 
35,349
 
27,218
 
27,567
 
27,300
 
26,512
  
Family
147,095
 
161,339
 
93,043
   
38,040
 
36,303
 
37,204
 
36,430
 
38,336
 
37,265
 
49,308
 
28,958
 
21,080
 
21,308
 
21,697
 
20,824
  
Combined family proceedings
12
         
8
           
2
           
5
         
4
         
1
         
2
         
1
         
2
         
3
         
2
         
0
0
0
0
Domestic violence
17,652
   
17,401
   
16,766
   
4,805
   
4,199
   
4,187
   
4,317
   
4,392
   
4,149
   
4,543
   
3,948
   
4,291
   
4,343
   
4,184
   
4,089
    
Financial provision
10,978
   
12,860
   
2,788
     
2,849
   
2,677
   
2,675
   
2,379
   
2,439
   
2,316
   
5,726
   
2,231
   
178
      
166
      
213
      
207
       
Help with mediation
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Other family proceedings
3,591
     
3,637
     
833
       
974
      
810
      
918
      
841
      
852
      
716
      
1,228
   
562
      
103
      
83
        
85
       
81
        
Other public law Children Act proceedings
8,176
     
8,861
     
7,928
     
2,070
   
2,025
   
2,099
   
2,089
   
2,038
   
2,159
   
2,575
   
1,984
   
1,934
   
1,898
   
2,112
   
2,114
    
Private law Children Act proceedings
61,692
   
70,293
   
16,956
   
15,766
 
14,990
 
15,944
 
15,627
 
16,185
 
15,553
 
22,928
 
8,067
   
3,050
   
2,837
   
3,002
   
2,913
    
Special Children Act proceedings
44,994
   
48,279
   
47,770
   
11,571
 
11,598
 
11,380
 
11,175
 
12,429
 
12,370
 
12,305
 
12,164
 
11,524
 
11,981
 
12,101
 
11,420
  
Social Welfare
15,189
   
15,272
   
13,264
   
3,968
   
3,737
   
3,776
   
3,675
   
3,708
   
3,711
   
4,178
   
3,431
   
3,292
   
3,381
   
3,160
   
3,181
    
Community care
909
       
1,005
     
959
       
224
      
238
      
216
      
221
      
236
      
273
      
275
      
245
      
264
      
231
      
219
      
201
       
Debt
410
       
355
       
210
       
131
      
83
        
88
       
103
      
88
       
80
        
84
       
85
       
44
       
45
        
36
       
29
        
Employment
117
       
91
         
25
         
37
       
28
        
24
       
31
       
22
       
12
        
26
       
9
         
4
         
8
         
4
         
12
        
Housing
13,708
   
13,775
   
12,047
   
3,566
   
3,380
   
3,439
   
3,309
   
3,355
   
3,335
   
3,776
   
3,085
   
2,975
   
3,092
   
2,895
   
2,934
    
Welfare benefits
45
         
46
         
23
         
10
       
8
         
9
         
11
       
7
         
11
        
17
       
7
         
5
         
5
         
6
         
5
          
Low Volume
10,054
   
9,970
     
5,870
     
2,601
   
2,322
   
2,542
   
2,318
   
2,307
   
2,264
   
3,081
   
1,619
   
1,390
   
1,466
   
1,395
   
1,684
    
Actions against the police etc.
1,689
     
1,888
     
1,306
     
403
      
390
      
490
      
460
      
439
      
494
      
495
      
342
      
313
      
349
      
302
      
330
       
Clinical negligence
4,039
     
3,853
     
821
       
1,107
   
937
      
994
      
890
      
861
      
749
      
1,353
   
294
      
178
      
170
      
179
      
169
       
Consumer
384
       
297
       
73
         
93
       
83
        
87
       
83
       
83
       
45
        
86
       
61
       
4
         
4
         
4
         
1
          
Discrimination
-
1
           
22
         
-
-
-
0
0
0
1
         
6
         
3
         
8
         
5
         
6
          
Education
182
       
203
       
82
         
39
       
34
        
46
       
50
       
46
       
57
        
50
       
29
       
23
       
23
        
7
         
13
        
Personal injury
38
         
19
         
9
           
8
         
11
        
5
         
4
         
5
         
6
         
4
         
2
         
4
         
1
         
2
         
0
Public law
2,724
     
2,812
     
2,607
     
678
      
645
      
716
      
592
      
653
      
735
      
832
      
692
      
707
      
707
      
501
      
562
       
Miscellaneous
998
       
897
       
950
       
273
      
222
      
204
      
239
      
220
      
178
      
260
      
193
      
158
      
204
      
395
      
603
       
Tribunals
4,037
     
4,543
     
5,257
     
1,014
   
1,041
   
1,040
   
1,120
   
1,165
   
1,038
   
1,220
   
1,341
   
1,456
   
1,412
   
1,048
   
823
       
Immigration
3,278
     
3,853
     
4,625
     
800
      
820
      
860
      
939
      
999
      
867
      
1,048
   
1,191
   
1,300
   
1,259
   
875
      
645
       
Mental health
759
       
690
       
632
       
214
      
221
      
180
      
181
      
166
      
171
      
172
      
150
      
156
      
153
      
173
      
178
       
1 Figures include data from the latest administrative system
Underlying data further breakdowns available on: sub category of case to Judicial review and if evidence for Child abuse or domestic violence was supplied
2012-13
2013-14
2011-12
 

 
Table 6.2: Civil representation, certificates granted
Certificates granted 1 including grants for emergency certificates for civil representation by category, 2011-12 to 2013-14, with quarterly data for Jul-Sep 2011 to Apr-Jun 2014 
(data available from 2006-07 available in accompanying Excel tables)
Financial Year
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
2014-15
Quarter
Jul-Sep Oct-Dec Jan-Mar
Apr-Jun
Jul-Sep Oct-Dec Jan-Mar
Apr-Jun
Jul-Sep Oct-Dec Jan-Mar
Apr-Jun
Total
148,279
 
150,472
 
108,100
 
37,576
 
37,528
 
38,307
 
36,139
 
37,791
 
36,452
 
40,090
 
34,779
 
25,156
 
23,558
 
24,607
 
23,149
 
Family
125,950
 
127,776
 
89,758
   
32,135
 
31,955
 
32,281
 
30,565
 
32,278
 
31,086
 
33,847
 
29,878
 
20,671
 
19,160
 
20,049
 
18,762
 
Combined family proceedings
12
         
5
           
2
           
4
         
4
         
2
         
2
         
1
         
2
         
2
         
0
0
0
0
Domestic violence
16,258
   
15,720
   
15,264
   
4,397
   
3,806
   
3,967
   
3,914
   
3,968
   
3,679
   
4,159
   
3,631
   
4,024
   
3,754
   
3,855
   
3,700
   
Financial provision
7,337
     
6,202
     
3,814
     
1,787
   
2,049
   
1,882
   
1,486
   
1,493
   
1,481
   
1,742
   
2,795
   
724
      
166
      
129
      
148
      
Help with mediation
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Other family proceedings
1,390
     
1,353
     
399
       
366
      
378
      
342
      
325
      
363
      
320
      
345
      
295
      
59
       
23
        
22
       
24
       
Other public law Children Act proceedings
6,989
     
7,287
     
6,702
     
1,713
   
1,775
   
1,825
   
1,768
   
1,794
   
1,765
   
1,960
   
1,779
   
1,623
   
1,534
   
1,766
   
1,755
   
Private law Children Act proceedings
49,113
   
49,218
   
16,672
   
12,405
 
12,610
 
12,777
 
11,877
 
12,235
 
11,863
 
13,243
 
9,344
   
2,932
   
2,090
   
2,306
   
2,135
   
Special Children Act proceedings
44,851
   
47,991
   
46,905
   
11,463
 
11,333
 
11,486
 
11,195
 
12,423
 
11,977
 
12,396
 
12,032
 
11,309
 
11,593
 
11,971
 
11,000
 
Social Welfare
12,986
   
13,104
   
11,608
   
3,351
   
3,141
   
3,432
   
3,153
   
3,209
   
3,162
   
3,580
   
2,960
   
2,864
   
2,790
   
2,994
   
2,824
   
Community care
759
       
831
       
582
       
186
      
180
      
211
      
187
      
196
      
233
      
215
      
145
      
147
      
139
      
151
      
128
      
Debt
231
       
192
       
138
       
79
       
42
        
52
       
53
       
47
       
51
        
41
       
56
       
37
       
25
        
20
       
25
       
Employment
62
         
53
         
12
         
15
       
19
        
14
       
11
       
16
       
7
         
19
       
8
         
2
         
0
2
         
0
Housing
11,912
   
12,012
   
10,868
   
3,068
   
2,895
   
3,147
   
2,899
   
2,946
   
2,869
   
3,298
   
2,749
   
2,678
   
2,623
   
2,818
   
2,670
   
Welfare benefits
22
         
16
         
8
           
3
         
5
         
8
         
3
         
4
         
2
         
7
         
2
         
0
3
         
3
         
1
         
Low Volume
6,168
     
5,945
     
3,745
     
1,388
   
1,589
   
1,759
   
1,523
   
1,431
   
1,362
   
1,629
   
1,285
   
799
      
792
      
869
      
1,071
   
Actions against the police etc.
1,161
     
1,225
     
748
       
238
      
281
      
361
      
304
      
303
      
296
      
322
      
232
      
157
      
148
      
211
      
261
      
Clinical negligence
2,638
     
2,399
     
1,031
     
615
      
691
      
739
      
671
      
595
      
496
      
637
      
540
      
183
      
139
      
169
      
163
      
Consumer
149
       
122
       
54
         
39
       
31
        
42
       
39
       
38
       
27
        
18
       
42
       
10
       
2
         
0
0
Discrimination
-
1
           
4
           
-
-
-
0
0
0
1
         
2
         
0
1
         
1
         
0
Education
125
       
137
       
43
         
25
       
27
        
34
       
27
       
34
       
42
        
34
       
14
       
15
       
11
        
3
         
6
         
Personal injury
6
           
8
           
2
           
1
         
2
         
4
         
2
         
1
         
1
         
1
         
1
         
0
0
0
Public law
1,695
     
1,801
     
1,570
     
360
      
464
      
494
      
395
      
407
      
435
      
564
      
398
      
396
      
447
      
329
      
342
      
Miscellaneous
394
       
252
       
293
       
110
      
93
        
89
       
83
       
52
       
65
        
52
       
56
       
37
       
44
        
156
      
299
      
Tribunals
3,175
     
3,647
     
2,989
     
702
      
843
      
835
      
898
      
873
      
842
      
1,034
   
656
      
822
      
816
      
695
      
492
      
Immigration
2,566
     
3,141
     
2,536
     
540
      
674
      
677
      
772
      
743
      
717
      
909
      
561
      
704
      
717
      
554
      
336
      
Mental health
609
       
506
       
453
       
162
      
169
      
158
      
126
      
130
      
125
      
125
      
95
       
118
      
99
        
141
      
156
      
1 Figures include data from the latest administrative system
Underlying data further breakdowns available on: sub category of case to Judicial review and if evidence for Child abuse or domestic violence was supplied
2012-13
2013-14
2011-12
 
50 

 
51 
Table 6.3: Civil representation, certificates completed
Certificates completed 1 for civil representation by category, 2011-12 to 2013-14, with quarterly data for Jul-Sep 2011 to Apr-Jun 2014 
(data available from 2008-09 in accompanying Excel tables)
Financial Year
2011-12
2012-13 2013-141
2014-15
Quarter
Jul-Sep Oct-Dec Jan-Mar
Apr-Jun
Jul-Sep Oct-Dec Jan-Mar
Apr-Jun
Jul-Sep Oct-Dec Jan-Mar
Apr-Jun
Total
138,131
 
137,288
 
147,704
 
36,844
 
34,181
 
35,849
 
34,498
 
32,934
 
34,748
 
35,108
 
36,551
 
35,255
 
36,551
 
39,347
 
33,938
 
Family
117,545
 
118,142
 
129,517
 
31,449
 
28,853
 
30,775
 
29,182
 
28,436
 
30,006
 
30,518
 
31,993
 
30,718
 
32,172
 
34,634
 
29,174
 
Combined family proceedings
22
         
10
         
8
           
4
         
5
         
8
         
4
         
2
         
1
         
3
         
2
         
1
         
2
         
3
         
1
         
Domestic violence
16,065
   
15,204
   
14,250
   
4,250
   
3,860
   
4,449
   
3,964
   
3,750
   
3,804
   
3,686
   
3,650
   
2,992
   
3,523
   
4,085
   
3,677
   
Financial provision
9,391
     
7,719
     
7,031
     
2,460
   
2,506
   
2,218
   
2,190
   
1,933
   
1,831
   
1,765
   
1,720
   
1,625
   
2,040
   
1,646
   
1,579
   
Help with mediation
51
         
26
         
8
           
16
       
11
        
7
         
11
       
9
         
4
         
2
         
3
         
2
         
3
         
0
0
Other family proceedings
1,193
     
1,137
     
1,205
     
334
      
287
      
331
      
279
      
291
      
281
      
286
      
339
      
319
      
239
      
308
      
261
      
Other public law Children Act proceedings
6,314
     
6,233
     
6,960
     
1,674
   
1,520
   
1,589
   
1,526
   
1,440
   
1,648
   
1,619
   
1,675
   
1,678
   
1,642
   
1,965
   
1,719
   
Private law Children Act proceedings
48,808
   
44,929
   
44,309
   
13,623
 
11,958
 
12,244
 
11,752
 
10,836
 
10,936
 
11,405
 
11,629
 
11,133
 
10,822
 
10,725
 
8,387
   
Special Children Act proceedings
35,701
   
42,884
   
55,746
   
9,088
   
8,706
   
9,929
   
9,456
   
10,175
 
11,501
 
11,752
 
12,975
 
12,968
 
13,901
 
15,902
 
13,550
 
Social Welfare
11,304
   
10,978
   
11,315
   
2,939
   
3,067
   
2,855
   
3,054
   
2,552
   
2,634
   
2,738
   
2,749
   
2,771
   
2,829
   
2,966
   
3,081
   
Community care
705
       
685
       
704
       
147
      
214
      
206
      
200
      
134
      
169
      
182
      
157
      
167
      
174
      
206
      
175
      
Debt
287
       
219
       
179
       
82
       
74
        
61
       
70
       
52
       
53
        
44
       
45
       
47
       
44
        
43
       
32
       
Employment
46
         
39
         
27
         
13
       
17
        
7
         
13
       
4
         
10
        
12
       
8
         
8
         
5
         
6
         
7
         
Housing
10,249
   
10,016
   
10,392
   
2,692
   
2,758
   
2,579
   
2,769
   
2,358
   
2,396
   
2,493
   
2,532
   
2,544
   
2,606
   
2,710
   
2,866
   
Welfare benefits
17
         
19
         
13
         
5
         
4
         
2
         
2
         
4
         
6
         
7
         
7
         
5
         
0
1
         
1
         
Low Volume
6,996
     
5,981
     
5,022
     
1,770
   
1,661
   
1,736
   
1,759
   
1,431
   
1,494
   
1,297
   
1,303
   
1,287
   
1,152
   
1,280
   
1,232
   
Actions against the police etc.
786
       
841
       
795
       
184
      
171
      
253
      
259
      
185
      
202
      
195
      
196
      
231
      
168
      
200
      
181
      
Clinical negligence
3,542
     
2,762
     
2,360
     
869
      
829
      
871
      
813
      
681
      
691
      
577
      
592
      
591
      
549
      
628
      
539
      
Consumer
335
       
223
       
148
       
81
       
90
        
75
       
63
       
55
       
62
        
43
       
36
       
37
       
38
        
37
       
23
       
Discrimination
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Education
173
       
113
       
109
       
55
       
49
        
30
       
34
       
24
       
23
        
32
       
31
       
25
       
28
        
25
       
19
       
Personal injury
354
       
284
       
86
         
71
       
90
        
74
       
112
      
60
       
80
        
32
       
31
       
23
       
7
         
25
       
24
       
Public law
1,239
     
1,309
     
1,224
     
355
      
293
      
298
      
334
      
302
      
341
      
332
      
337
      
306
      
283
      
298
      
293
      
Miscellaneous
567
       
449
       
300
       
155
      
139
      
135
      
144
      
124
      
95
        
86
       
80
       
74
       
79
        
67
       
153
      
Tribunals
2,286
     
2,187
     
1,850
     
686
      
600
      
483
      
503
      
515
      
614
      
555
      
506
      
479
      
398
      
467
      
451
      
Immigration
1,938
     
1,788
     
1,467
     
600
      
518
      
376
      
403
      
435
      
517
      
433
      
404
      
392
      
318
      
353
      
361
      
Mental health
348
       
399
       
383
       
86
       
82
        
107
      
100
      
80
       
97
        
122
      
102
      
87
       
80
        
114
      
90
       
1 Data does not include cases completed in the LAA’s new administrative system, including these would raise completed volumes by an estimated 0.6% and total value by less than 0.5%.
Underlying data further breakdowns available on: high cost case split, outcome, benefit type, Judicial review split and if evidence for Child abuse or domestic violence was supplied
2012-13
2013-14
2011-12
 

 
Table 6.4: Civil representation costs met by LAA
Volume and total value of the Civil Representation cases completed, Apr-Jun 2013 to Apr-Jun 2014 
Civil representation
Volume
Cost 
(£'000)
Volume
Cost 
(£'000)
Volume
Cost 
(£'000)
Volume
Cost 
(£'000)
Volume
Cost 
(£'000)
Total
35,634
  
195,253
 
34,240
   
191,755
 
35,597
   
203,195
 
38,216
   
212,452
 
32,840
   
196,328
 
Family
31,931
180,593
30,665
176,840
32,127
188,706
34,581
196,566
29,116
180,678
Combined family proceedings
2
10
1
10
2
7
3
3
1
1
Domestic violence
3,646
11,691
2,987
9,187
3,522
10,776
4,075
10,712
3,675
10,650
Financial provision
1,671
5,948
1,582
6,142
2,004
7,790
1,607
5,178
1,529
5,334
Help with Mediation
3
4
2
2
3
3
0
0
0
0
Other family proceedings
337
1,184
318
1,336
238
1,040
306
2,464
261
1,130
Other public law Children Act proceedings
1,675
7,614
1,677
7,841
1,642
7,262
1,965
8,034
1,718
9,312
Private law Children Act proceedings
11,626
40,408
11,132
40,037
10,817
38,223
10,723
39,632
8,386
36,702
Special Children Act proceedings
12,971
113,736
12,966
112,285
13,899
123,604
15,902
130,544
13,546
117,550
Social Welfare
2,446
6,737
2,432
7,162
2,455
6,729
2,544
6,787
2,690
6,989
Community care
135
545
140
647
151
576
181
681
150
680
Debt
38
133
45
166
38
203
39
144
30
168
Employment
8
35
7
14
5
20
6
18
6
57
Housing
2,259
6,001
2,235
6,275
2,261
5,931
2,317
5,941
2,503
6,082
Welfare benefits
6
23
5
60
0
1
3
1
1
Low Volume
851
5,420
781
5,655
768
6,065
771
5,977
698
5,542
Actions against the police etc.
72
326
114
638
80
355
89
790
70
376
Clinical negligence
361
2,877
307
2,595
336
3,224
322
2,734
319
3,160
Consumer
27
98
26
207
27
192
27
585
14
68
Education
28
110
21
92
24
131
22
124
17
62
Personal injury
22
208
16
268
5
37
10
65
9
460
Public law
279
1,358
237
1,446
232
1,220
249
1,278
213
1,006
Miscellaneous
62
443
60
410
64
907
52
402
56
410
Tribunals
406
2,503
362
2,098
247
1,696
320
3,122
336
3,119
Immigration
306
883
277
891
169
401
207
697
246
871
Mental health
100
1,620
85
1,207
78
1,295
113
2,425
90
2,248
1 Data does not include cases completed in the LAA’s new CCMS system, including these would raise completed volumes by an estimated 0.7% and total value by less than 0.5%.
Underlying data further breakdowns available on: high cost case split, outcome, benefit type, Judicial review split and if evidence for Child abuse or domestic violence was supplied
Apr-Jun 2013
Jul-Sep 2013
Oct-Dec 2013
Jan-Mar 2014
Apr-Jun 2014
 
52 

 
Table 6.5: Civil representation costs met by opponent
Volume and total value of the Civil Representation cases which have completed, Apr-Jun 2013 to Apr-Jun 2014 
Civil representation
Volume
Cost 
(£'000)
Volume
Cost 
(£'000)
Volume
Cost 
(£'000)
Volume
Cost 
(£'000)
Volume
Cost 
(£'000)
Total
917
       
28,599
   
1,015
    
36,098
   
954
        
26,878
   
1,131
     
37,931
   
1,098
     
32,545
   
Family
62
809
53
801
45
621
53
698
58
768
Combined family proceedings
4
18
5
156
1
2
10
144
2
7
Domestic violence
49
608
43
587
36
549
39
542
50
704
Financial provision
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Help with Mediation
2
66
1
19
1
10
2
10
0
0
Other family proceedings
0
0
1
2
0
0
0
0
1
19
Other public law Children Act proceedings
3
58
1
12
5
29
2
2
1
9
Private law Children Act proceedings
4
59
2
24
2
30
0
0
4
30
Special Children Act proceedings
303
3,326
339
2,963
374
3,466
422
3,990
391
4,166
Social Welfare
22
505
27
415
23
454
25
566
25
645
Community care
7
185
2
49
6
61
4
40
2
26
Debt
0
0
1
6
0
0
0
0
1
65
Employment
273
2,631
309
2,493
345
2,951
393
3,384
363
3,430
Housing
1
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Welfare benefits
452
23,835
506
31,174
384
21,164
509
31,648
534
26,690
Low Volume
124
2,912
117
2,476
88
2,421
111
2,491
111
2,877
Actions against the police etc.
231
17,742
284
23,800
213
16,326
306
25,993
220
20,112
Clinical negligence
9
164
11
245
11
183
10
72
9
124
Consumer
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Education
3
46
4
167
4
69
3
103
2
28
Personal injury
9
941
7
1,480
2
283
15
1,550
15
1,139
Public law
58
1,419
69
2,438
51
962
49
1,037
80
2,050
Miscellaneous
18
611
14
567
15
919
15
402
97
360
Tribunals
100
629
117
1,160
151
1,627
147
1,595
115
921
Immigration
98
616
115
1,148
149
1,607
146
1,585
115
921
Mental health
2
12
2
12
2
21
1
9
0
0
Underlying data further breakdowns available on: high cost case split, outcome and benefit type
Apr-Jun 2013
Jul-Sep 2013
Oct-Dec 2013
Jan-Mar 2014
Apr-Jun 2014
 
53 

 
Table 7.1: Mediation assessments
Civil representation willingness test and mediation assessments, volume and value, 2006-07 to 2013-14, with quarterly data from Apr-Jun 2011 to Apr-Jun 2014
Financial 
Year
Quarter
Willingness 
Tests Assessments 1
Assessment 
meeting - 
separate
Assessment 
meeting - 
together
Assessment 
meeting - 
alone
Willingness 
Tests
Assessment 
meeting - 
separate
Assessment 
meeting - 
together
Assessment 
meeting - 
alone
Assessment 
Expenditure
2006-07
48,419
22,758
33,923
5,796
7,784
1,742
2,754
          
602
              
657
             
4,014
           
2007-08
48,122
22,665
34,056
5,637
7,841
1,562
3,117
          
709
              
730
             
4,556
           
2008-09
52,272
24,152
38,546
4,879
8,061
1,512
3,885
          
733
              
815
             
5,433
           
2009-10
59,451
27,138
44,763
4,756
9,633
1,706
4,475
          
708
              
968
             
6,151
           
2010-11
60,441
26,387
44,446
4,164
10,882
1,771
4,530
          
631
              
1,115
          
6,277
           
2011-12
66,421
31,338
54,539
4,068
14,784
1,976
5,634
          
627
              
1,535
          
7,796
           
2012-13
64,783
30,668
54,572
3,382
18,144
1,931
5,648
          
525
              
1,882
          
8,054
           
2013-14
147
13,423
24,427
1,209
4,811
4
2,518
          
186
              
496
             
3,201
           
2011-12
Apr-Jun
17,006
7,769
13,273
1,132
3,556
506
1,371
          
174
              
370
             
1,915
           
Jul-Sep
17,516
8,221
14,253
1,094
3,942
521
1,471
          
169
              
410
             
2,050
           
Oct-Dec
15,485
7,365
12,869
930
3,442
461
1,329
          
143
              
357
             
1,830
           
Jan-Mar
16,414
7,984
14,144
912
3,844
489
1,463
          
141
              
398
             
2,002
           
2012-13
Apr-Jun
15,201
7,383
12,901
932
3,574
453
1,336
          
144
              
370
             
1,851
           
Jul-Sep
15,050
7,334
13,046
811
3,930
448
1,350
          
126
              
408
             
1,884
           
Oct-Dec
13,828
6,684
11,870
749
3,679
412
1,228
          
116
              
381
             
1,725
           
Jan-Mar
20,704
9,268
16,755
890
6,961
617
1,734
          
138
              
722
             
2,594
           
2013-14
Apr-Jun
88
3,965
7,192
369
1,542
3
743
             
57
                
160
             
960
             
Jul-Sep
9
3,355
6,086
312
1,201
0
628
             
48
                
124
             
799
             
Oct-Dec
3
2,869
5,156
291
900
0
531
             
45
                
93
               
669
             
Jan-Mar
47
3,234
5,993
237
1,168
1
616
             
36
                
120
             
773
             
2014-15
Apr-Jun
1
3,609
6,717
250
1,373
0
686
             
38
                
141
             
865
             
1 Figures for assessments include those with both parties in attendance and half of the attendance volume where both parties appear separately.
Volume
Value (£ '000s)
 
 
 
54 

 
Table 7.2: Mediations
Civil representation mediation starts and mediation outcomes, volume and value, 2006-07 to 2013-14, with quarterly data from Apr-Jun 2011 to Apr-Jun 2014
Financial 
Year
Quarter
Mediation 
starts
Total 
Agreements
Successful 
Agreements
Full 
Agreement
Partial 
Agreement
No 
Agreement
Full 
Agreement
Partial 
Agreement
No 
Agreement
Expenditure
2006-07
13,918
      
13,612
          
8,996
8,535
461
4,616
4,739
265
1,504
6,508
2007-08
13,239
      
13,468
          
9,164
8,680
484
4,304
4,821
266
1,460
6,547
2008-09
13,537
      
13,364
          
8,989
8,485
504
4,375
4,949
298
1,451
6,698
2009-10
14,745
      
14,236
          
9,939
9,376
563
4,297
5,434
343
1,457
7,234
2010-11
14,186
      
14,021
          
9,920
9,352
568
4,101
5,269
355
1,374
6,998
2011-12
15,357
      
14,623
          
9,797
9,261
536
4,826
5,030
341
1,537
6,908
2012-13
13,609
      
13,991
          
9,077
8,630
447
4,914
4,475
262
1,558
6,296
2013-14
8,432
        
9,672
            
6,630
6,307
323
3,042
3,194
192
918
4,304
2011-12
Apr-Jun
3,781
        
3,449
            
2,359
2,235
124
1,090
1,246
81
368
1,696
Jul-Sep
4,025
        
3,727
            
2,481
2,339
142
1,246
1,294
91
381
1,767
Oct-Dec
3,735
        
3,624
            
2,426
2,291
135
1,198
1,226
85
380
1,691
Jan-Mar
3,816
        
3,823
            
2,531
2,396
135
1,292
1,264
83
407
1,754
2012-13
Apr-Jun
3,566
        
3,731
            
2,509
2,374
135
1,222
1,239
80
392
1,711
Jul-Sep
3,519
        
3,579
            
2,323
2,218
105
1,256
1,166
54
382
1,602
Oct-Dec
3,242
        
3,425
            
2,234
2,131
103
1,191
1,111
62
376
1,549
Jan-Mar
3,282
        
3,256
            
2,011
1,907
104
1,245
960
66
408
1,433
2013-14
Apr-Jun
2,706
        
3,092
            
2,132
2,027
105
960
1,051
64
288
1,403
Jul-Sep
2,092
        
2,540
            
1,761
1,676
85
779
849
54
233
1,136
Oct-Dec
1,883
        
2,098
            
1,439
1,377
62
659
693
35
204
932
Jan-Mar
1,751
        
1,942
            
1,298
1,227
71
644
601
39
193
834
2014-15
Apr-Jun
1,778
        
1,758
            
1,217
1,164
53
541
542
33
154
730
Underlying data further breakdowns available on: detailed start type and agreement split
Volume
Value (£ '000s)
 
 
 
 
 
 
55 

 
56 
Table 8.1: Exceptional Case Funding (ECF)
Exceptional Case Funding (ECF) statistics, from Apr-Jun 2013 to Apr-Jun 2014
Financial 
Year
Quarter
Number of 
applications
New 
applications
Reviews
Application 
made by 
provider
Application 
made by 
individual
Positive 
Preliminary 
View
Awaiting
Granted
Refused
Rejected
Withdrawn
2013-14
Apr-Jun
272
234
38
252
20
0
0
7
163
102
0
Jul-Sep
472
372
100
444
28
0
0
13
339
120
0
Oct-Dec
407
303
104
387
20
1
0
24
291
84
7
Jan-Mar
369
277
92
357
12
1
0
25
255
81
7
2014-15
Apr-Jun
270
209
61
258
12
0
5
37
180
45
3
Underlying data further breakdowns available on: duration in days and rejection reason
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
57 
Annex A - Glossary of key terms 
Terms used in the report and tables are explained below. 
Advocates’ Graduated Fee Scheme (AGFS): The fee scheme which governs 
fees paid to advocates (barristers or solicitor advocates) who represent clients in 
criminal proceedings in the Crown Court, other than in cases which have been 
classified as very high cost (Criminal) cases. Payment is determined by proxy 
measures, the seniority of the advocate, offence type, pages of prosecution 
evidence, prosecution witnesses and days that the advocate spends at court at 
trial. 
Appeals (in the Crown Court): The Crown Court deals with appeals from 
magistrates' courts against conviction and sentence in the Magistrates Court or 
Youth Court, hospital or guardianship orders, failure to comply with a supervision 
order and failure to make a football banning order.  The Crown Court also has the 
power to alter a sentence or other order made by the Crown Court within 56 days 
of the date on which it was made.  
Category and areas of law: The LAA defines areas of law (education, housing 
etc) thematically and contracts for the provision of advice and representation based 
on the categories below (see below for Crime Higher, Crime Lower, Civil Family, 
Civil Social Welfare law, Civil Non-Family Low volume and Civil Tribunals) 
Civil: The area of law that concerns the rights and relations of private citizens – for 
example, disputes relating to unpaid debts or the enforcement/breach of contracts. 
Covers civil and family law but excludes criminal matters. 
Civil Family categories: 
Family controlled work both private and public law (Civil Family) 
Children act - private (Civil Family): covers disputes about divorce, children 
issues (contact and residence), the separate representation of children where 
the court appoints it, and child abduction. 
Domestic Abuse (Civil Family): injunctions, committal orders, or other orders 
for protection of a person from harm or forced marriages. Unlike other 
applications there is no upper limit to a victim’s income or capital (they may 
have to pay a contribution). 
Financial provision (Civil Family): ancillary relief i.e. money & property. There 
is a funding test for representation.  
Other (Civil Family): This area covers proceedings relating to defended 
divorce, nullity, civil partnership rights or applications under the Human 
Embryology Act.  
Children act – public (Civil Family): for children or parents in disputes with the 
state, particularly local authorities, on matters such as care proceedings and 
adoption. In care proceedings there is no means or merits test. 

 
58 
Family Mediation (Civil Family): enables separating or divorcing couples to 
reach decisions about their arrangements together, using an independent third 
party mediator.  
Civil Low Volume: These differ from other Civil and family categories as need is 
thinly distributed within the population, and demand is greatly influenced by the 
location and advice provided by low volume providers. 
Actions against the Police (Civil Low Volume): help with claims against the 
police such as assault, entering the home, false imprisonment, wrongful 
arrest, interference with property, malicious prosecution or other abuses of 
police authority. 
Clinical Negligence (Civil Low Volume): help with claims for damages against 
all types of public and private medical practitioners, including doctors, nurses 
and dentists.  
Consumer and general contract (Civil Low Volume): enables clients to obtain 
advice and bring civil law actions regarding contracts and their enforcement 
(except where this falls into another category). 
Education (Civil Low Volume): legal help on problems to do with the education 
service, including failing to provide education e.g. special educational needs, 
exclusions, bullying and admissions. 
Personal Injury (Civil Low Volume): enables clients to take action for 
compensation if they have suffered an injury due to someone’s negligence or 
deliberate action. Most personal injury cases have now been excluded from 
the scope of legal aid. Most new cases involve applications to the Criminal 
Injuries Compensation Board.  
Public Law (Civil Low Volume): civil liberties or human rights advice including 
advice on data protection, freedom of information issues and how to challenge 
the decisions of public bodies.  
Miscellaneous (Civil Low Volume): aimed at ensuring that meritorious cases 
can be brought and advice given for issues that do not fall within the scope. 
Civil Social Welfare Law categories: 
Community Care (Civil Social Welfare): help for people who are unable to look 
after themselves because of age, illness or disability. May include obtaining or 
challenging an assessment for adequate services, challenging care home 
closures or contesting involuntary removal from home, by a local authority if 
deemed incapable of looking after yourself. 
Debt (Civil Social Welfare): personal debts, both priority (e.g. council tax, rent 
arrears) and non-priority (credit cards), rescheduling debts (e.g. negotiating 
payment plans with creditors), challenging the validity of debts (e.g. due to 
dormancy) and personal insolvency/bankruptcy/Individual Voluntary 
Arrangements (IVAs). 
Employment (Civil Social Welfare): unfair and wrongful dismissal, redundancy, 
employment contract, discrimination, strike action, data protection and 
employee confidentiality, terms and conditions and wages issues. Legal aid is 
available for assistance prior to an Employment Tribunal (not for 

 
59 
representation at the Tribunal). It is available for representation at an 
Employment Appeal Tribunal.  
Housing (Civil Social Welfare): help with issues arising out of where people 
live e.g. possession and eviction, disrepair, homelessness, allocation of 
housing, and other landlord and tenant issues.  It also includes anti-social 
behaviour work (e.g. a local authority taking action against a tenant).  
Welfare Benefits (Civil Social Welfare): covers receipt of and entitlement to 
benefits.  Work in this category includes: challenging benefit decisions (e.g. 
where a benefit has been refused), gaining benefits a client is entitled to, 
benefit fraud and overpayments. 
Civil - Tribunals 
Mental Health (Civil Tribunals): covers all work where the primary legal issue 
relates to mental health, particularly where this is covered by the Mental 
Health Acts of 1983 and 2007, and the Mental Capacity Act 2005. 
Immigration & Asylum (Civil Tribunals): covers legal help on anything to do 
with immigration into the UK, for example, questions relating to nationality or 
right to stay in this country or deportations. Also covers issues relating to 
asylum including representation before the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal 
and advice to appeal to higher courts. 
Civil Representation: Representation by solicitors and barristers for civil cases, 
which could go to court (also see Licensed work). 
Committal for sentence: Where, in the magistrates’ court, an offender has been 
convicted of, or has pleaded guilty to, an either way offence, but the magistrates 
consider that the penalties available to them are inadequate having regard to the 
seriousness of the offence or combination of offences, they may commit the 
offender to the Crown Court for sentencing. 
Community Legal Advice Centre (CLAC):  These were walk-in Community Legal 
Advice Centres providing free, generalized, face-to-face legal advice at an initial 
appointment and further specialized advice for people eligible for legal aid. 
Complex Crime Unit: The Complex Crime Unit manages all Very High Cost 
Cases under a criminal legal aid contract. 
Contracted Providers: The LAA contracts with solicitor firms and not for profit 
organisations to deliver face to face advice and assistance in both crime and civil, 
and to deliver advice over the telephone via Community Legal Advice (CLA) 
contracts. This includes contracted mediators who undertake mediation on behalf 
of legally aided clients.  
Controlled Work: Work under the civil contract that covers legal advice and 
assistance (Legal Help), help at court and legal representation in front of Mental 
Health Review Tribunals and the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal. 
Court of Appeal and Supreme Court (Crime Higher): The appeal and higher 
courts deal with smaller volumes of caseload but are generally more complex with 
points of law and other unusual case work. 
Criminal Higher: Legal representation in the Crown Court and above. 

 
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Crown Court (Crime Higher): typically solicitor prepares case for trial and 
barrister or solicitor advocate provides representation. 
Very High Cost Cases (Crime Higher): extensive evidence reviewed and case 
prepared by solicitor. Senior counsel (QC) often presents. 
Court of Appeal and Supreme Court (Crime Higher): The appeal and higher 
courts deal with smaller volumes of caseload but are generally more complex 
with points of law and other unusual case work. 
Criminal Lower: Work carried out by legal aid providers at police stations and in 
magistrates’ courts in relation to people accused of or charged with criminal 
offences. Prison law is also included within this category. 
Magistrates’ Court (Crime Lower): solicitor preparation for appearance or trial. 
Representation within the magistrates’ court, often by a solicitor advocate or 
junior barrister. 
Police Station (Crime Lower): advice on rights and options pre-charge, in the 
station, in person by solicitor or outside the police station relating to pre-
charge; or applications to extend detention. 
Prison Law (Crime Lower): advice for prisoners relating to their treatment or 
discipline in prison (e.g. parole hearings) and their progression through the 
prison system. 
Disbursements: Costs incurred by the provider that relate to expenses such as 
the cost of a travel, paying fees. For example, the payment of court fees, or paying 
other parties to undertake a service using experts’ opinions. 
Domestic violence and child abuse cases: Information on these is available in 
the csv file.  These are applications submitted under Paragraphs 12 or 13 of Part 1, 
Schedule 1 of the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012. 
ECF application: an ECF application for civil legal services is made where a case 
falls outside the scope of legal aid but the client or conducting solicitor believes 
there is evidence to support there being a requirement to provide funding because 
failure to do so would be a breach of, or having regard to any risk that failure to do 
so would be such a breach of, their Convention rights (within the meaning of the 
Human Rights Act 1998), or any rights of the individual to the provision of legal 
services that are enforceable EU rights. 
ECF determinations - this is the decision taken on an application by the LAA ECF 
Team.  Decision results are to either Positive Preliminary View, Grant, Refuse or 
Reject an application. 
ECF granted- an ECF application can only be granted if:the exceptional case 
criteria are met, and the relevant criteria set out in the Civil Legal Aid  (Merits 
Criteria) Regulations are met, and  
the relevant criteria set out in the Civil Legal Aid (Financial Resources and 
Payment for Services) Regulations are met 
ECF new applications – this is the first application in relation to a particular set of 
proceedings.  

 
61 
ECF positive preliminary view- this is only viable on ECF applications made 
directly by the client, prior to a full ECF Application being received in conjunction 
with a Legal Aid provider.   
ECF refuse – The application was assessed by the LAA ECF Team and the 
determination is to Refuse.  ECF criteria were not met, so the application is refused 
with details for refusal provided. 
ECF reject – The application was assessed by the LAA ECF Team and the 
determination is to Reject.  Either the application was in scope for a non 
exceptional legal aid application, or not enough information has been provided in 
the application to make a determination, so the application is rejected with details 
for rejection provided. 
ECF review applications – this relates to a request for an internal review of a 
determination previously made by the LAA ECF team.  
Either way offence: An offence which can be tried either before the magistrates’ 
court or the Crown Court. The appropriate venue is determined at a Mode of Trial 
hearing at the magistrates’ court. If the magistrates determine that the matter is too 
serious or complex for summary trial, they can commit it to the Crown Court. If the 
magistrates determine that the case is suitable for summary trial, the defendant 
can elect for trial by jury. 
Help at Court: Enables a solicitor or advisor to speak at a court or tribunal on an 
informal basis e.g. to argue that an order should not be enforced immediately. 
Indictable offence: A criminal offence that can only be tried in the Crown Court.  
Interests of justice test: The test is applied to criminal cases as part of the 
process to determine whether a client receives criminal legal aid. The provision of 
publicly funded representation is usually deemed to be in the interests of justice 
when the case is so serious that if the defendant is found guilty they are likely to 
face imprisonment, loss of livelihood or loss of reputation, where there are 
substantial questions of law to be argued, or the defendant is a minor, mentally 
handicapped, cannot speak English, or is otherwise incapable of following 
proceedings.  
Judicial review: Information on these are available in the csv file.  Judicial review 
is a type of court proceeding in which a judge reviews the lawfulness of a decision 
or action made by a public body.  In other words, judicial reviews are a challenge to 
the way in which a decision has been made, rather than the rights and wrongs of 
the conclusion reached.  It is not really concerned with the conclusions of that 
process and whether those were ‘right’, as long as the right procedures have been 
followed. The court will not substitute what it thinks is the ‘correct’ decision. 
Legal Help: A form of civil legal services which includes advice and assistance 
about a legal problem, but does not include representation or advocacy in 
proceedings (also see Controlled work).  
Licensed Work: Work under the civil contract that covers all legal representation 
(representation by solicitors and barristers for civil cases which could go to court) 
except work covered by Controlled Work or VHCC, which are managed under 
separate contracts. 

 
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Litigators’ Graduated Fee Scheme (LGFS): The fee scheme which governs fees 
paid to solicitors who represent clients in criminal proceedings in the Crown Court, 
other than in cases which have been classified as Very High Cost (Criminal) 
Cases. Payment is determined by proxy measures, the type of offence, pages of 
prosecution evidence, and number of days of trial. 
Means test: The process by which an assessment of clients’ financial eligibility for 
public funding is made. 
Merits test: The aim of the merits test is to ensure that only cases with reasonable 
prospects of success receive legal aid. The test does this by seeking to replicate 
the decision making process that somebody who pays privately would make when 
deciding whether to bring, defend or continue to pursue proceedings. 
New matter starts: A matter refers to an instance of help given by a service 
provider to a legal aid client under Controlled Work and does not cover 
representation at court. 
Referral Providers: The LAA does not currently contract directly with referral 
providers such as barristers and experts. Whilst contracted providers will in most 
cases seek prior authority from the LAA for payment of barristers and experts, it is 
the contracted provider who chooses when to instruct a referral provider and which 
barrister or expert to instruct. Referral providers are paid for each piece of work 
either directly by the LAA in the case of barristers, or via the contracted providers 
in the case of experts. 
Very High Cost Cases (VHCC): extensive evidence reviewed and case prepared 
by solicitor. Senior counsel (QC) often presents.

 
63 
Annex B - Explanatory notes 
The statistics in this bulletin relate to work by the LAA in England and Wales 
between 1 April 2014 and 30 June 2014.  
Uses of the statistics  
These statistics can be used to understand and monitor changes in the volumes of 
different types of activity across the legal aid system, and the value of payments 
associated with that activity.  
Users of these statistics include departmental teams responsible for coordinating 
responses and requests to FOIs and PQs, Ministers and officials with responsibility 
for developing policy, parliament in providing scrutiny of legal aid policy, and 
providers and recipients of legal aid. 
Official Statistics 
This Statistical Release is published at 9.30am on a date which has been pre-
announced on the Ministry of Justice website 
(https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-
justice/about/statistics#publication-schedule). 
A list of officials who have received pre-release access to this Statistical Release 
up to 24 hours in advance of publication is also available on the Ministry of Justice 
website alongside the Statistical Release itself 
(https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/legal-aid-statistics). 
Next Publication 
The date of the next release of Legal Aid Statistics Quarterly will be pre-announced 
on the Ministry of Justice website (www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-
of-justice/about/statistics#publication-schedule).  

 
64 
Annex C - Contact points for further 
information 
Press enquiries on the contents of this bulletin should be directed to the Ministry of 
Justice press office: 
Andrew McGill 
Tel: xx-xxxx-xxxx 
Email: xxx@xxx.xx 
 
 
Other enquiries about these statistics should be directed to: 
Richard Field, Head of Statistics 
Legal Aid Agency 
7th Floor, 102 Petty France 
London SW1H 9AJ 
Tel: xx-xxxx-xxxx 
xxx@xxx.xx 
 
 
General enquiries about the statistical work of the Ministry of Justice can be e-
mailed to: xxx@xxx.xx 
General information about the official statistics system of the UK is available from 
www.statistics.gov.uk 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
© Crown copyright 
Produced by the Ministry of Justice 
Alternative formats are available on request from xxx@xxx.xx