Legal aid statistics: April 2013 to March 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  
 
2013-2014 
 
 
 
Ministry of Justice 
Statistics bulletin  
 
Published 24 June 2014 
  

 
Executive summary 
Summary 
1. In 2013-14 the overall workload for legal aid consisted of over 1.8 million acts of 
assistance.  The LAA spent just over £1.7 billion in 2013-14 on funding advice for criminal 
and civil legal matters.  Of this, £0.9 billion was spent on criminal legal aid and around 
£0.8 billion was spent on civil legal aid. 
 
2. Acts of assistance were at their highest in 2009-10. Since this peak the volume has fallen 
by just over 39 per cent; within this reduction the criminal legal aid area has reduced by 
almost 14 per cent but the majority of the fall has come from the civil justice area which 
has reduced by almost two-thirds over this period. 
Figure 1: –Overall summary of acts of assistance (000’s) since 2007-08 
Financial Year
Type
Area 
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
Acts of assistance
Crime lower
1,379
1,432
1,408
1,338
1,252
1,235
1,203
       
(000's)
Crime higher
124
124
126
131
139
123
121
          
Crime total
1,502
1,556
1,534
1,469
1,391
1,358
1,324
       
Legal help
835
1,164
1,266
1,096
940
782
381
          
Civil representation
166
150
165
150
146
144
116
          
Civil total
1,000
1,314
1,431
1,246
1,086
925
497
          
 
Crime 
3. Workload in the wider Criminal Justice System (CJS) has fallen and as a consequence 
work further down the system has also seen a fall. The largest reduction in overall 
workload within criminal legal aid has been in the magistrates’ court area with a drop of 
21 per cent in completed proceedings between 2008 and 20131. 
 
4. The last few years have seen falls in volume in the crime higher category.  These have 
been driven by a fall in the volume of representations in the Crown Court.  Expenditure in 
crime higher has also decreased over the last three years. 
5. There was a steady decline in the number of crime lower acts of assistance between 
2008-09 and 2012-13, which has stabilised in the last 18 months.  There has been a 16 
per cent decrease in crime lower workload since 2008-09 and a three per cent fall in the 
last year.   
 
 
 
                                            
1 Table 3.1 of the main tables in Court Statistics (Quarterly) January to March 2014 
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/court-statistics-quarterly 
2 

 
3 
Civil 
6. There have been changes in the makeup of levels of service funded by civil legal aid. The 
volumes of new matters started for legal help have fallen by over 80 per cent between 
2009-10 and 2013-14.  The number of certificates granted for civil representation has 
fallen by 30 per cent between 2010-11 and 2013-14.   
7. In 2013-14 there were large decreases across the civil legal aid area, driven by changes 
to the scope of legal aid as set out in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of 
Offenders Act (LASPO). 
Appealing Decisions 
8. The number of appeals against representation decisions on financial and legal grounds 
has fallen by 11 per cent when compared to the previous year. The proportion of appeals 
granted has remained fairly steady over the last seven years with a slight fall in the last 
two years. 
9. The number of appeals against representation provided had been in decline between 
2008-09 and 2011-12 with a fall of 25 per cent in the period. However, the figures in 
2012-13 showed an increase of 19 per cent compared to the previous year.  There has 
been a two per cent fall in 2013-14, but numbers are still above the low point of 2011-12. 
Exceptional Case Funding 
10. 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 the 1 April 
2013. 
11. In 2013-14 1,520 total ECF applications were received by the LAA.  69 per cent of these 
applications were for family or immigration cases.  The majority of applications (95 per 
cent) were made by legal aid providers.  In 2013-14 69 ECF applications were granted. 
Providers 
12. Since 2007-08 the number of civil providers has nearly halved (as at the end of the 
financial year) and criminal providers under contract have decreased by 16 per cent. In 
the last year the number civil providers have reduced by almost a quarter compared to 
the previous year.  Crime providers have decreased by five per cent in the same period.  
Clients 
13. The overall criminal legal aid client gender profile differs from the national profile with a 
greater proportion of young and male clients. The overall civil legal aid client diversity 
profile differs from the national profile with a greater proportion of clients from BAME 
origin and with a disability. 

 
4 
Contents 
Executive summary 
 
 
 
2 
Contents 
 
 
 
4 
Introduction 
 
 
 
5 
Analysis and Commentary 
 
 
 
8 
Criminal legal aid 
11 
Crime higher 
 
12 
Crime lower 
 
15 
Civil & Family – Community Legal Service 
 
 
 
19 
Family 
 
20 
Family Mediation 
 
21 
Non-family – social welfare law (SWL) 
 
22 
Non-family – low volume (LV) 
 
22 
Tribunals 
 
23 
Appealing decisions 
 
 
 
25 
Exceptional Case Funding: applications and determination 
 
 
 
26 
Provider information 
 
 
 
28 
Clients of Legal Aid 
 
 
 
30 
Timeliness 
 
 
 
33 
Tables 
 
 
 
36 
Annex A - Glossary of key terms 
 
 
 
64 
Annex B - Explanatory notes 
 
 
 
70 
Annex C - Contact points for further information 
 
 
 
72 

 
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 twelve months (April 2013 to March 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. 
Others will be interested in the way different categories of law are dealt with and the use of legal 
aid within the system.  
The report is to be used in conjunction with the LAA Annual Report 2013-14 and Accounts which 
provides more detail on expenditure within the legal aid 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 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: 
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2012/10/enacted 
 
 

 
6 
Workload 
For many areas of civil law, the implementation of the LASPO Act will mean a reduction of 
workload.  In particular 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). . 
 
- 
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 – the majority of immigration work is no longer covered by legal aid. 
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 will refer them to a face to face advice service if they consider it necessary.    
Transforming Legal Aid 
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, and to identify ways in which public confidence can be improved.  
 
As a result the following reforms were effective from 2 December 2013: 
 
‐ 
Reform of fees in criminal Very High Cost Cases (VHCCs) 
‐ 
Changes to the scope of prison law eligible 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 are effective from 27 January 2014: 
 

 
7 
‐ 
Changes to the Crown Court means test for criminal legal aid  
‐ 
Removing legal aid for cases with borderline prospects of success  
 
The following reform is effective from 20 March 2014: 
 
‐ 
Interim Fee Cut for criminal legal aid work of 8.75 per cent (excluding VHCCs) 
 
The full effect of these changes will not be seen in this report as reforms were implemented part 
way through the year. 
 
Scope 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.  It also includes sections for timeliness, the appealing of 
decisions, information on providers of legal aid and lastly a view of the clients who have used 
legal aid in 2013-14. 
Summary of 2013-14 
In 2013-14 overall workload for legal aid was over 1.8 million acts of assistance compared to 2.3 
million in 2012-13, a fall of 20 per cent.  This can be broken down into two main justice areas, 
crime and civil: 
 
Legal aid 
 
8 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
- Criminal 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. 
- Crime higher is legal representation 
in the Crown Court and above. 
- Split into crime higher and crime 
lower. 
- Provides legal advice and 
representation to people being 
investigated or charged with a 
criminal offence. 
- This includes work carried out in 
police stations and in courts in 
relation to people accused of or 
charged with criminal offences. 
Criminal legal aid 
- Civil Representation is 
representation by solicitors and 
barristers for civil cases, which 
could go to court 
- Legal help includes advice and 
assistance about a legal problem, 
but does not include 
representation or advocacy in 
proceedings.  
- Split into legal help and civil 
representation. 
- A network of organisations that 
fund, provide and promote civil 
legal advice and representation.  
- This includes work that relates to 
the rights and relations of private 
citizens- for examples, disputes 
relating to unpaid debts and family 
matters. 
Civil legal aid 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LAA spent just over £1.7 billion in 2013-14 on funding advice for criminal and civil legal matters 
compared to £1.9 billion in 2012-13, a fall of 11 per cent.  Of the spend in 2013-14, £0.9 billion 
was spent on criminal legal aid and around £0.8 billion was spent on civil legal aid. 
Within these two broad categories crime lower and legal help have the highest volumes in terms 
of acts of assistance but, as figure 2 shows, they make up a small percentage of the total 
expenditure.  In contrast, crime higher and civil representation are comparatively low in volume, 
but combined they make up over 70 per cent of the expenditure. 

 
Figure 2: The percentage of workload and the percentage of expenditure by crime type,  
2013-14 
 
Trends over time 
Volumes, in terms of the number of acts of assistance, were at their highest in 2009-10. Since 
this peak volumes have fallen by just over 39 per cent; within this reduction the criminal legal aid 
area has reduced by almost 14 per cent but the majority of the fall has come from the civil justice 
area which has reduced by almost two-thirds over this period. 
Figure 3: Acts of assistance provided, 2007-08 to 2013-14 
 
9 

 
Following the trend in acts of assistance the total expenditure on legal aid also reached its peak 
in 2009-10, but this trend has subsequently been reversed with expenditure in 2013-14 down by 
24 per cent from the peak. 
Figure 4: Legal aid expenditure split by crime and civil, 2007-08 to 2013-14 
 
The increase for civil expenditure matched the rise in workload until the peak in 2009-10, where 
the fund split between civil and crime was almost even.  
Since 2009-10 expenditure on both crime and civil legal aid has fallen, with the civil legal aid 
area falling somewhat earlier and further than criminal legal aid. 
10 

 
 
Criminal legal aid 
The diagram below shows the availability of legal aid flows throughout the Criminal Justice 
System (CJS) with legal services touching on the system from start to finish. 
 
 
 
Figures given in this report reflect each of the areas above with information from pre-charge, 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 CJS has fallen and as a consequence work further down the system has 
also seen a fall. The largest reduction in overall workload within criminal legal aid has been in 
the magistrates’ court area with a drop of 21 per cent in completed proceedings between 2008 
and 20132. 
 
Prison law is the only area of criminal legal aid in which volumes have risen compared to 2007-
08, with an increase of ten per cent. However, volumes within prison law have been gradually 
falling since 2009-10.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                            
2 Table 3.1 of the main tables in Court Statistics (Quarterly) January to March 2014 
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/court-statistics-quarterly 
11 

 
Figure 5: Volumes within criminal legal aid area 2013-14 
 
Note: figures have been rounded so may not sum to totals 
Crime higher 
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 cases. 
The last few years have seen falls in volume in the crime higher category (see figure 6).  These 
have been driven by a fall in the volume of representations in the Crown Court.  Expenditure in 
crime higher has also decreased over the last three years, with falls in all three categories. 
Figure 6: Workload within crime higher, 2011-12 to 2013-14 
Representation at 
Crown Court
Very High Cost 
Cases
Court of Appeal and 
Supreme Court
2011-12
132,570
                
28
                       
5,778
                           
2012-13
123,120
                
20
                       
5,643
                           
2013-14
111,927
                
12
                       
4,906
                           
 
Note: Figures for Representation at Crown court are based on litigator graduated fee scheme 
only. 
 
 
 
 
 
12 

 
 
Figure 7: Total expenditure in crime higher by scheme, 2011-12 to 2013-14 
 
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 
There has been an increase of nine per cent in the volume of publicly funded representations 
within the Crown Court in the last year. This is driven by a 22 per cent increase in either way 
cases, which is similar to trends in Crown Court completions3.  The number of trials for 
indictable only offences in the Crown Court remained almost unchanged from the previo
committals to the Crown Court for sentencing fell by nine per cent and appeals against 
sentencing and verdicts from the magistrates’ courts fell by 15 per cent.   
us year, 
                                           
 
 
 
 
3 Table 3.2 of the main tables in Court Statistics (Quarterly) January to March 2014 
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/court-statistics-quarterly 
13 

 
Figure 8: Workload within the Crown Court – representation orders granted, 2011-12 to 2013-14 
 
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 VHCC in 2013-14 was £57 million, a reduction of 16 per cent compared to 
the previous year. Falling VHCC costs are due to changes in rates paid and also a general 
change in the number of cases that are dealt with under the graduated fee schemes that cover 
all other casework. This area represents less than one per cent of the volume but ten 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 9 below shows the number of VHCC’s opened 
since 2006-07, together with the number of individual contracts signed, contracts closed and the 
total expenditure. In 2013-14, 11 of the 12 cases opened were for fraud cases.  
 
 
 
14 

 
Figure 9: VHCC workload since 2006-07 
Financial 
Year
High Cost Crime 
Cases Opened
High Cost Crime 
Contracts Opened
High Cost Crime 
Contracts Closed
High Cost Crime 
Expenditure (£m)
2006-07
56
417
426
105
2007-08
54
391
399
125
2008-09
63
437
433
112
2009-10
55
426
313
95
2010-11
33
264
460
93
2011-12
28
227
294
92
2012-13
20
112
222
68
2013-14
12
72
216
57
 
Court of Appeal and Supreme Court 
Volumes in the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court have fallen in the last three years, and 
expenditure has followed a similar trend.   The largest volume in this area comes from the court 
of appeal, in 2013-14 court of appeal cases made up 87 per cent of this category. 
 
Crime lower 
There was a steady decline in the crime lower workload between 2008-09 and 2012-13, 
although this has stabilised in the last 18 months.  There has been a 21 per cent decrease in 
crime lower workload since 2008-09 compared to a two per cent fall in the last year.   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
15 

 
Figure 10: Workload within crime lower, Apr-Jun 2011 to Jan-Mar 2014  
 
 
Pre-charge suspects 
Pre-charge work is the largest area of crime lower and in 2013-14 it made up over 60 per cent of 
the workload.  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 in 20013-14 remained stable compared to the previous year (see figure 
11).  Over time the trend has been gradually decreasing from a peak in 2008-09. A similar trend 
can be seen in recorded crime figures which have also been reducing in the same period4. 
The majority of the pre-charge workload consists of suspects receiving legal help with a solicitor 
in attendance.  In 2013-14 the volume of this work was eight per cent lower than the peak in 
2008-09.   
                                            
4 http://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 
 
16 

 
There has been a steady decline in telephone advice given with figures in 2013-14 nearly 40 per 
cent lower than in 2008-09.  Workload in other police station work has also fallen, and is now 
less than half of the peak in 2008-09.    
Figure 11: Volume of workload with pre-charge suspects 
 
Magistrates’ court 
The overall workload in magistrates’ courts where a representation order is required (including 
court duty solicitor sessions) in 2013-14 fell by five per cent when compared to the previous 
year. The trend follows the general fall in workload over the last few years with a 29 per cent 
reduction when compared with 2007-08.  This is consistent with the trend in the magistrates’ 
court workload which has fallen by 21 per cent between 2008 and 20135.  This is driven by the 
fall in those where a representation order is required as these cases account for more than 80 
per cent of the magistrates’ court workload.    
 
Prison Law 
In Prison law there was a 49 per cent increase in volume between 2007-08 and 2009-10, but 
since then figures have been gradually decreasing (see figure 12).  2013-14 has seen a 14 per 
cent fall compared to the previous year.  From December 2013, under the Legal Aid Reform 
programme, there were changes to the scope of legal aid available for prison law6.  The effect of 
these changes on the figures for 2013-14 will be limited as they were introduced part way 
through the year, but they may have been a factor in the large decrease this year. 
                                            
5 Completed proceedings in table 3.1 of the main tables in Court Statistics (Quarterly) January to March 2014 
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/court-statistics-quarterly 
6 http://www.justice.gov.uk/offenders/parole-board 
17 

 
Figure 12: Volume of workload with prison law 
 
Three quarters of prison law cases in 2013-14 were for free standing advice and assistance 
cases. The Parole Board considered over four thousand (13 per cent) at a legal aid funded oral 
hearings and finally the LAA also funded over four thousand (12 per cent) disciplinary hearing 
claims, which were heard by Independent Adjudicators (IAs).  
18 

 
 
Civil & Family – Community Legal Service 
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 enter straight 
into civil representation. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A wide of 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.  
 
There have been changes in the makeup of levels of service funded by civil legal aid. The 
volumes of new matters started for legal help have fallen by over 80 per cent between 2009-10 
and 2013-14.  The number of certificates granted for civil representation have fallen by 30 per 
cent between 2010-11 and 2013-14.   
The longer term trend in civil representation is consistent with the trend in civil courts statistics 
which show a steady decrease in the total number of hearings and trial since 20087.   
 
                                            
7 See table 1.1 of the main tables in Court Statistics (Quarterly) January to March 2014 
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/court-statistics-quarterly 
  
19 

 
Figure 13: Volumes within civil legal aid area (acts of assistance, excludes housing possession 
court duty scheme and telephone operator service) 
 
1 The figure for family mediation is not included within the Family (private) total 
Note: figures have been rounded so may not sum to totals.  Figures are taken from legal help 
matters started and civil representation certificates granted. 
 
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. 
In the last four years volumes in family law have been decreasing.  However, in the last year 
there has been a 60 per cent drop compared to the year before.  This change is likely to be 
driven by the change in scope for legal aid as a result of the LASPO Act.  From the civil 
representation figures, the largest falls have been in private law Children’s Act proceedings (over 
30,000 fewer certificates granted).  This is consistent with the changes implemented under 
LASPO as legal aid is now only available for private family law cases if there is evidence of 
domestic violence or child abuse and for child abduction cases. 
Despite large falls in other areas of the family workload, decreases in family public law have 
been much smaller.  Family public cases are primarily driven by the issuing of proceedings by 
individual Local Authorities. These cases are non-means and merits tested, and LAA has no 
control over the volume of these cases. 
20 

 
Figure 14: Family workload: Legal Help and Civil Representation 
 
Note: Data is from legal help matters started and civil representation certificates 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. 
Figure 15: Family mediation figures since 2006-07 
Financial 
year
Assessments
Mediation 
Starts
Starts as % of 
assessments
Agreements
Agreements as 
% of Starts
2006-07
22,758
         
13,918
            
61%
8,996
               
65%
2007-08
22,665
         
13,239
            
58%
9,164
               
69%
2008-09
24,152
         
13,537
            
56%
8,989
               
66%
2009-10
27,138
         
14,745
            
54%
9,939
               
67%
2010-11
26,388
         
14,186
            
54%
9,920
               
70%
2011-12
31,338
         
15,357
            
49%
9,799
               
64%
2012-13
30,662
         
13,609
            
44%
9,076
               
67%
2013-14
13,354
         
8,400
             
63%
6,613
               
79%  
 
The use of mediation has fallen in the last year (see figure 15), but this may be due to the 
reduction in scope of legal aid due to the LASPO Act and coincides with a fall in the total number 
of family cases.  Whilst volumes have decreased, the last year has seen an increase in the 
propotion of assessments that then turn into mediation starts.   
21 

 
The number of full and partial agreements has also decreased, but in 2013-14 the proportion of 
those reaching agreements rose to 79 per cent of all mediation proceedings started.  This is an 
increase compared to previous years where around two-thirds of those starting full mediation 
reached agreement without having to enter the court system.  
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.  Social welfare volumes have fallen by 79 per cent in 2013-14 compared to 2012-13.  
Within this the largest falls were in welfare (over 88,000 fewer) and debt (nearly 80,000 fewer) 
when compared to the previous year.   
Although there have been big falls in the last year, social welfare volumes have been falling 
since 2010-11.   In this category overall there was a 29 per cent fall between 2010-11 and 2012-
13, with falls across all five areas (see figure 16). 
In 2013-14 housing was the largest volume area, making up 89 per cent of social welfare, with 
community care making up a further six per cent and debt four per cent. 
Figure 16: Workload in non-family social welfare law, 2010-11 to 2013-14  
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
Social Welfare
411,647
     
368,123
    
294,839
    
64,291
     
Community care
7,097
         
7,453
         
6,242
         
3,848
         
Debt
128,825
     
109,511
     
81,984
       
2,561
         
Employment
25,450
       
20,295
       
16,172
       
18
              
Housing
129,147
     
120,119
     
102,063
     
57,719
       
Welfare benefits
121,128
     
110,745
     
88,378
       
145
            
 
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, 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.  
 
 
 
 
 
22 

 
Figure 17: Workload in non-family low volume, 2010-11 to 2013-14 
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
Low Volume
24,690
        
21,198
       
17,029
      
10,903
      
Actions against the police etc.
4,725
          
5,168
          
4,167
          
2,970
          
Clinical negligence
6,884
          
6,286
          
5,258
          
1,146
          
Consumer
1,512
          
699
             
457
             
54
               
Discrimination
-
             
-
             
1
                 
2,388
          
Education
4,814
          
3,900
          
3,093
          
1,210
          
Personal injury
857
             
533
             
325
             
5
                 
Public law
2,979
          
3,318
          
3,150
          
2,664
          
Miscellaneous
2,919
          
1,294
          
578
             
466
             
 
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 to just five. Other areas affected by the LASPO Act and 
showing large falls are clinical negligence and education.   
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. 
Between 2010-11 and 2013-14 there has been a steady increase in the volume of legally aided 
mental health tribunals.  In 2013-14 there was a one per cent increase compared to the previous 
year (see figure 18). 
Immigration 
Under the changes made in the LASPO Act, the majority of immigration cases are no longer in 
scope for legal aid.  This was reflected in the figures which showed a 45 per cent decrease in 
2013-14 compared to the previous year. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
23 

 
Figure 18: Workload in mental health and immigration, 2010-11 to 2013-14 
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
140,000
2010‐11
2011‐12
2012‐13
2013‐14
Volume
Financial  Year
Immigration
Mental health
 
Note: workload has been calculated by adding legal help matters started and civil representation 
certificated granted. 
24 

 
 Appealing decisions 
Providers who are unhappy with decisions in relation to their contract can ask for an internal 
review and/or for the matter to be referred to the Contract Review Body. If they are still unhappy 
their ultimate remedy is to go to arbitration. 
The internal complaints procedure includes a route to compensation for maladministration, 
basically any error or omission which has led to financial loss. The scheme is unlimited in terms 
of the amount of compensation that can be claimed, although claims for over £5,000 go to the 
Customer Redress Committee and then for approval to the MoJ.  
Appeals against decisions 
The number of appeals against representation decisions on financial and legal grounds has 
fallen by 11 per cent when compared to the previous year. The proportion of appeals granted 
has remained fairly steady over the last seven years with a slight fall in the last two years (see 
figure 19). 
Figure 19: Appeals against decision for legal aid (civil representation only) since 2007-08 
Financial year
 
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
Number financial and 
legal appeals
11,264
10,074
10,267
10,540
11,246
9,843
8,792
Number granted
1,388
1,366
1,418
1,245
1,318
1,014
910
% Granted
12%
14%
14%
12%
12%
10%
10%
 
Appeals against representation provided 
When granting public funding to an individual, their opponents or other third parties may make 
representations against the grant or continuation of funding. Representations may be made 
concerning the legal merits of the case, the financial means of the applicant, or both.  
Figures had been in decline between 2008-09 and 2011-12 with a fall of 25 per cent in the 
period (see figure 20). However, the figures in 2012-13 showed an increase of 19 per cent 
compared to the previous year.  There has been a two per cent fall in 2013-14, but numbers are 
still above the low point of 2011-12. 
Figure 20: Appeals against representation provided since 2007-08 
Financial Year
Merits
Means
Merits & 
means
Total
2007-08
1,166
1,143
162
2,471
2008-09
1,241
1,289
147
2,677
2009-10
1,146
1,298
126
2,570
2010-11
1,119
901
114
2,134
2011-12
1,046
855
117
2,018
2012-13
1,149
1,162
93
2,404
2013-14
1,385
882
77
2,344  
 
 
25 

 
Exceptional Case Funding: applications and determination 
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 the 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.  
 
Figure 21: Process map setting out the assessment of ECF applications received and 
determinations made by the LAA ECF Team. This covers the period from April 2013 to March 
2014. 
Application
Receive
s 
d 
0 
New: 1,186 
Reviews: 334 
1,52
26 
 
 
Positive 
Preliminary 
Review 
Granted 
 
Rejected 
) 
Refused 
) 
Withdrawn 
%) 
69 (5%)
387 (26%
1,048 (69%
14 (1
2 (0.1%) 
 
All applications received in 2013-14 have been determined with an average turnaround time for 
assessing new and reviewed ECF applications of 7 working days (excluding cases awaiting 
assessment). The turnaround time for each application starts on the date it is received by the 
LAA ECF team. The majority of ECF applications (95 per cent, 1,440 applications) were received 

 
from a legal aid provider.  Only five per cent (80 applications) were received directly from the 
client. 
 
Unlike other legal aid applications, clients can make ECF applications directly to the Legal Aid 
Agency.  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.  
 
Figure 22: Summary of all ECF applications received in 2013-14, split by category of law and by 
determination. 
 
Area of Law
Positive 
Preliminary 
View
Granted
Refused Rejected Withdrawn
Total
Family
2
9
584
220
6
821
Immigration
0
4
189
39
3
235
Inquest
0
53
86
60
1
200
Other
0
1
49
32
4
86
Housing/Land Law
0
1
52
27
0
80
PI/Clinical Negligence
0
0
63
2
0
65
Inquiry/Tribunal
0
1
6
6
0
13
Welfare Benefits
0
0
11
0
0
11
Debt/Consumer/Contract
0
0
6
0
0
6
Education
0
0
2
0
0
2
Discrimination
0
0
0
1
0
1
Total
2
69
1,048
387
14
1,520  
 
More than half of all applications (54 per cent) were family applications.  A typical family 
application is in private family law proceedings.  These may concern the right of contact with and 
residence of the applicant’s child or the division of matrimonial assets.  These cases generally 
involve determination of civil rights and obligations.  In assessing these applications the 
overarching question to consider is whether withholding of legal aid would make the assertion of 
the claim practically impossible or lead to an obvious unfairness in proceedings. 
27 

 
 
Provider information 
Legal aid services in England and Wales are delivered through two types of service providers, 
contracted providers and referral providers.  
There has been a steady reduction in the number of contracted legal aid providers since 2007-
08.  This decline is driven largely by a fall in the number of civil providers.   
Criminal legal aid volume is mainly demand led whereas civil legal aid volume is controlled by 
the LAA awarding a maximum number of new matter starts to each contracted provider.  
Since 2007-08 the number of civil providers has fallen by 39 per cent (as at the end of the 2013-
14 financial year) and criminal providers under contract have decreased by 16 per cent. In the 
last year the number of civil providers has reduced by 11 per cent compared to the previous 
year.  Crime providers have decreased by five per cent over the same period.  
Figure 23: Providers split by civil and criminal (as at end of each financial year)  
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
28 

 
Figure 24: Categories of law held under contract (as at end of each financial year) 
 
 
The total number of contracts held for providing legal aid across all civil categories of law has 
remained steady over the last three years, with just under 4,700 contracts open as at 31 March 
2014, of which around 4,000 were held by solicitor firms and around 700 were held by Not-for-
Profit organisations (see figure 24). 
29 

 
 
Clients of Legal Aid 
The charts below show the breakdown of client diversity for crime, legal help and civil 
representation compared with the national breakdown from the latest 2011 census statistics 
The overall criminal legal aid client gender profile differs from the national profile with a much 
greater proportion of male clients. This follows the same trend seen in the Criminal Justice 
System, with more male defendants passing through the system than females.8 
Figure 25: Proportion of clients by gender (closed cases in 2013-14) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                            
8 MOJ, Criminal Justice statistics quarterly: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-
justice/series/criminal-justice-statistics  
30 

 
The overall civil legal aid client diversity profile differs from the national profile with a greater 
proportion of clients from black and minority ethnic (BAME) origin. This may be affected by the 
high numbers where ethnicity is unknown. 
Figure 26: Proportion of clients by broad ethnic group (closed cases in 2012-13) 
 
 
The overall civil legal aid client diversity profile differs from the national profile with a greater 
proportion of clients with a disability. This may be affected by the high numbers where the 
disability status is unknown. 
Figure 27: Proportion of clients by disability status (closed cases in 2013-14) 
 
31 

 
The overall criminal legal aid client age profile has a much greater proportion of younger clients 
than the general population of England and Wales. This follows the same trend seen in the 
Criminal Justice System, with defendants passing through the system concentrated in younger 
age groups. 
Figure 28: Proportion of clients by age (closed cases in 2013-14) 
32 

 
 
Timeliness 
While not able to influence the duration of a case, the LAA is able to analyse the time taken from 
the granting of legal aid to the date when the final payment is made. This data is not regularly 
reviewed during the internal management information process and as such its inclusion in this 
document is experimental. 
 
The timeliness data highlights the differences between the quicker Legal Help and Crime Lower 
work and the lengthier matters with multiple court hearings spread over a long time for Civil 
Representation and Crime Higher. 
 
Each of the charts below shows two kinds of average for the time taken in each area of legal aid. 
The mean (solid vertical line) shows the total length of time taken divided by the number of 
cases, and the median (dotted vertical line) shows the middle value, where half of all cases took 
longer and half took less time. The mean can be skewed upwards where the underlying data has 
a minority of very lengthy cases, so the median can be more representative of a typical case.  
 
Figure 29: Timeliness of Civil Representation completed matters, 2013-14 
 
In 2013-14, the mean time taken for Civil Representation completed matters was just over 19 
months, which compares with just under 21 months for matters completed in the previous year.  
The median fell to 14 months, from 15 months in the previous year. 
 
33 

 
Figure 30: Timeliness of Legal Help completed matters, 2013-14 
 
 
 
The mean time taken for legal help matters in 2013-14 was just over nine months, which 
compares with just over seven months in the previous year.  However the median was five 
months, unchanged from the previous year. 
 
Figure 31: Timeliness of Crime Higher (Crown Court) completed matters, 2013-14 
 
In 2013-14, the mean time taken for Crime Higher (Crown Court) matters was between four and 
five months, which compares with just under five months in the previous year.  The median 
remained unchanged at four months. 
 
 
34 

 
 
Figure 32: Timeliness of Crime Lower completed matters, 2013-14 
 
Both the median (less than one month) and the median (between one and two months) for 
Crime Lower are low due to the large majority of pre-charge work, and to a lesser extent those 
matters with fewer court hearings, which occur on the same day at the police station in 
attendance with the suspect. These figures are virtually unchanged compared with the previous 
year. 
 
 
35 

 
36 
 
Tables 
Summary 
Table 1 
Legal aid workload summary since 2001-02 
Criminal legal aid 
Table 2.1 
Crime lower workload (count) 
Table 2.2 
Crime lower workload (value) 
Table 2.3 
Crime lower workload (quarterly) 
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 4.4 
Crown Court graduated fee schemes 
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 6.6 
Civil representation outcomes 
Table 7.1 
Mediation assessment 
Table 7.2 
Mediations 

 
37 
 
Appeals, providers and acts of assistance 
Table 8.1 
Appeals – against representation decision 
Table 8.2 
Appeals – against representation provided 
Table 9 
Civil Legal Help – Providers available 
Table 10 
Overall Summary Acts of Assistance and Expenditure since 2007-08 
 
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. 
 
 
 
 

 
38 
Table 1: Legal aid workload summary since 2001-02
Volume of work in legal aid 2001-02 to 2013-14, with quarterly data for Apr-Jun 2011 to Jan-Mar 2014
Crime lower
Legal help
Civil representation
Financial Year Quarter
Representation 
at Crown 
Court1,2
Very high 
cost cases
Court of 
Appeal and 
Supreme 
Court
Crime higher 
total
New 
matters 
started3
Completed 
matters4
Applications 
received
Certificates 
granted
Certificates 
closed5
Civil total
2001-02
1,685,094
..
..
 .. 
764,697
748,890
..
..
..
 .. 
2002-03
1,549,626
..
..
 .. 
811,848
798,033
..
..
..
 .. 
2003-04
1,579,751
..
..
 .. 
709,769
756,569
..
..
..
 .. 
2004-05
1,505,674
..
..
 .. 
654,267
715,837
..
..
..
 .. 
2005-06
1,528,383
..
..
 .. 
783,455
786,522
..
..
..
 .. 
2006-07
1,462,987
..
56
 .. 
851,023
876,071
..
..
..
 .. 
2007-08
1,381,424
..
54
 .. 
807,459
735,436
..
..
..
 .. 
2008-09
1,521,547
..
63
 .. 
893,812
756,446
..
..
..
 .. 
2009-10
1,501,156
126,143
55
 .. 
942,882
904,261
..
..
..
 .. 
2010-11
1,429,294
130,459
33
 .. 
803,914
815,340
187,588
       
153,602
     
124,887
       
   957,516 
2011-12
1,331,364
132,570
28
5,778
        138,376 
705,295
674,848
176,375
       
148,274
     
133,916
       
   853,569 
2012-13
1,233,251
123,120
20
5,643
        128,783 
592,368
602,241
190,641
       
150,453
     
133,315
       
   742,821 
2013-14
1,203,473
111,927
12 
4,906
        116,845 
172,501
328,319
113,180
       
107,944
     
143,545
       
   280,445 
2011-123 
Apr-Jun
330,825
25,621
4 
..
 .. 
146,490
147,176
42,787
        
34,867
       
30,328
        
 .. 
Jul-Sep
348,473
41,872
14
..
 .. 
153,048
144,784
45,623
        
37,575
       
35,833
        
 .. 
Oct-Dec
324,005
27,202
9
..
 .. 
132,861
137,916
43,403
        
37,527
       
33,046
        
 .. 
Jan-Mar
328,061
37,875
1
..
..
149,436
146,745
44,562
        
38,305
       
34,709
        
..
2012-13
Apr-Jun
307,466
32,480
1
..
 .. 
129,486
132,650
43,543
        
36,134
       
33,396
        
 .. 
Jul-Sep
319,612
29,737
6
..
 .. 
128,907
128,059
45,515
        
37,791
       
31,959
        
 .. 
Oct-Dec
299,966
31,993
5
..
 .. 
112,448
122,314
44,248
        
36,444
       
33,734
        
 .. 
Jan-Mar
306,207
28,910
8
..
..
115,372
124,577
57,335
        
40,084
       
34,226
        
..
2013-14
Apr-Jun
302,487
27,822
5
..
 .. 
35,910
107,700
34,550
        
34,771
       
35,664
        
 .. 
Jul-Sep
306,523
28,616
4
..
 .. 
37,957
79,253
26,334
        
25,144
       
34,280
        
 .. 
Oct-Dec
295,546
28,889
3
..
 .. 
36,565
61,996
26,430
        
23,541
       
35,665
        
 .. 
Jan-Mar
298,917
26,600
0
..
..
39,736
57,286
25,866
        
24,488
       
37,936
        
..
1 Figures before the higher crime schemes transferred to the Legal Services Commission are not available
2 Based on litigator graduated fee scheme only
3 All figures exclude Housing possession court duty scheme and Telephone operator service, quarterly figures also exclude telephone advice service so figures will not sum to yearly totals
4 Quarterly figures exclude telephone advice service so figures will not sum to yearly totals
5 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%.
Crime higher
 

 
39 
Table 2.1: Crime lower workload (count)
Case volume for crime lower 2001-2 to 2013-14
Count
Type
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
Pre-charge suspects
674,837
753,001
771,688
780,966
805,078
786,441
767,360
871,093
856,617
847,900
792,808
733,829
736,343
Attendance
482,373
545,901
563,811
575,814
617,362
633,131
584,107
671,266
676,536
678,532
641,797
608,407
616,187
Attendance on immigration issues
-
2,428
4,028
3,306
2,555
807
380
226
96
65
39
34
52
Duty solicitor standby (claims)
31,832
32,769
33,849
34,630
35,023
33,881
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Telephone advice only
133,993
144,059
147,153
150,415
134,615
103,800
92,022
54,414
42,908
37,181
27,925
22,455
20,711
Telephone advice admin costs
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
CDS Direct telephone advice
-
-
-
-
-
-
77,908
134,141
126,968
123,740
115,497
96,738
94,627
Free standing advice and assistance (not in police station)
24,823
26,127
20,870
14,685
13,954
13,790
12,379
10,357
9,446
7,861
7,094
5,777
4,399
Warrants of further detention
1,816
1,717
1,977
2,116
1,569
1,032
564
689
663
521
456
418
367
Charged defendants1
288,644
120,537
116,602
49,797
34,514
31,206
24,087
18,381
18,020
17,809
15,598
15,984
12,978
Post charge police station advice and assistance
82,742
9,701
20,283
19,827
17,882
15,273
11,397
4,473
3,044
2,371
1,580
1,260
1,112
Refused means test form completion fee
-
-
-
-
-
185
1,593
1,798
1,703
1,919
1,582
1,591
1,351
Early cover
-
-
-
-
-
1,311
2,387
3,136
3,137
3,145
2,783
2,796
2,194
Preparation: representation order refused
-
-
-
5,066
6,849
5,908
3,342
3,931
4,333
3,918
3,974
3,662
3,070
Advice and assistance
99,192
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Advocacy assistance
31,154
27,154
23,982
6,241
3,789
3,178
1,637
1,167
1,138
1,308
756
699
615
Assistance by way of representation
779
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Appeals, reviews and other courts
1,695
1,522
1,604
1,984
2,282
2,254
1,838
2,278
2,960
3,203
3,638
4,282
3,396
Civil assistance on criminal matters
-
908
612
359
265
243
863
683
883
1,092
1,280
1,693
1,240
Firms claiming for file review payments
-
1,661
1,587
1,569
1,709
1,390
1,030
915
822
853
5
1
-
Early first or administrative hearings
34,911
34,520
31,277
4,929
296
134
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Free standing advice and assistance
38,171
44,782
37,257
9,822
1,442
1,330
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Extended court sitting hours pilot
-
289
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Representation at Magistrates' court2
716,366
664,905
677,733
659,213
668,863
618,939
557,784
589,621
578,599
517,230
480,153
442,042
418,727
Lower standard fees
470,265
449,921
467,474
459,233
462,695
410,630
366,586
403,488
397,040
348,748
321,214
291,651
273,505
Higher standard fees
89,733
91,866
87,086
82,566
87,059
87,412
76,019
71,358
71,694
61,206
57,760
54,414
52,660
Non-standard fees and exempt cases
38,222
32,818
33,187
30,065
31,553
34,401
31,232
25,708
23,049
20,462
18,237
18,154
17,756
Second claims for deferred sentencing
921
1,526
1,609
1,487
1,121
694
643
596
469
881
898
713
Court duty solicitor (sessions)
118,146
89,379
88,460
85,740
86,069
85,375
83,253
88,424
86,220
86,345
82,061
76,925
74,093
Prison law
5,247
11,183
13,728
15,698
19,928
26,401
32,193
42,452
47,920
46,355
42,805
41,396
35,425
Free standing advice and assistance
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
38,794
38,037
34,642
33,330
26,752
Advocacy assistance at prison discipline hearings
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
5,672
4,738
4,352
4,027
4,194
Advocacy assistance at parole board hearings
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
3,454
3,580
3,811
4,039
4,479
1 No representation required or refused
2 Figures include Court duty solicitor sessions
 

 
40 
Table 2.2: Crime lower workload (value)
Values for crime lower 2001-2 to 2013-14
Value (£'000)
Type
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
Pre-charge suspects
140,226
168,762
175,505
172,213
184,824
188,014
180,628
192,459
187,259
179,503
169,475
160,144
160,683
Attendance
118,586
145,274
152,495
152,461
166,138
170,795
159,025
179,019
174,632
170,018
161,235
153,145
154,921
Attendance on immigration issues
-
540
810
535
351
139
87
64
28
17
10
10
12
Duty solicitor standby (claims)
10,143
10,328
10,501
10,528
10,505
10,462
8,268
-
-
-
-
-
-
Telephone advice only
8,272
9,109
8,625
6,197
5,519
4,350
3,780
2,066
1,561
1,357
1,049
847
781
Telephone advice admin costs
-
-
-
-
-
-
4,820
6,492
6,737
4,044
3,285
3,086
2,605
CDS Direct telephone advice
-
-
-
-
-
-
2,731
3,221
2,821
2,744
2,614
1,959
1,490
Free standing advice and assistance (not in police station)
2,491
2,755
2,172
1,514
1,526
1,543
1,585
1,434
1,334
1,232
1,197
1,012
803
Warrants of further detention
734
756
902
978
786
725
333
164
146
92
84
85
71
Charged defendants1
36,480
17,383
16,731
10,351
9,809
8,835
6,906
6,784
8,013
7,453
5,777
6,983
5,344
Post charge police station advice and assistance
14,166
893
1,798
1,317
1,139
1,016
712
382
281
223
159
133
125
Refused means test form completion fee
-
-
-
-
-
7
91
84
63
71
47
48
40
Early cover
-
-
-
-
-
106
204
272
276
274
250
251
197
Preparation: representation order refused
-
-
-
289
405
349
203
233
247
230
225
209
175
Advice and assistance
8,865
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Advocacy assistance
4,881
4,132
3,716
1,906
1,895
1,835
952
600
471
508
279
208
202
Assistance by way of representation
983
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Appeals, reviews and other courts
323
683
923
1,673
2,244
1,804
1,798
2,432
3,994
3,795
4,363
5,559
4,180
Civil assistance on criminal matters
-
129
88
68
71
77
162
204
204
278
434
556
424
Firms claiming for file review payments
-
3,293
3,422
3,458
3,728
3,437
2,784
2,578
2,477
2,074
21
19
-
Early first or administrative hearings
3,997
3,899
3,449
575
46
22
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Free standing advice and assistance
3,265
4,301
3,335
1,065
282
181
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Extended court sitting hours pilot
-
53
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Representation at Magistrates' court2
323,007
316,917
318,514
307,908
315,435
308,116
269,566
265,592
254,335
225,276
210,945
198,436
190,138
Lower standard fees
152,283
154,849
160,781
157,938
157,924
141,423
123,595
132,249
127,766
110,429
103,108
95,141
89,792
Higher standard fees
73,168
79,741
76,369
74,227
78,527
79,487
66,588
61,526
62,140
53,801
51,343
47,569
46,171
Non-standard fees and exempt cases
73,695
61,774
60,740
56,052
58,784
66,596
58,197
48,809
42,055
37,832
33,247
33,484
32,073
Second claims for deferred sentencing
-
243
393
418
418
311
199
188
169
135
290
316
241
Court duty solicitor (sessions)
23,861
20,310
20,231
19,273
19,782
20,299
20,987
22,820
22,205
23,080
22,958
21,925
21,861
Prison law
1,088
3,557
4,947
6,731
8,742
12,489
15,992
21,606
24,891
25,452
22,709
21,336
19,945
Free standing advice and assistance
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
14,304
14,700
12,817
11,865
9,812
Advocacy assistance at prison discipline hearings
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
3,722
3,258
2,018
1,762
1,703
Advocacy assistance at parole board hearings
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
6,865
7,494
7,874
7,709
8,430
1 No representation required or refused
2 Figures include Court duty solicitor sessions
 

 
Table 2.3: Crime lower workload (quarterly)
Case volume and total value for crime lower, quarterly for Jan-Mar 2013 to Jan-Mar 2014
Count
Value (£'000)
Type
Jan-Mar 
2013
Apr-Jun 
2013
Jul-Sep 
2013
Oct-Dec 
2013
Jan-Mar 
2014
Jan-Mar 
2013
Apr-Jun 
2013
Jul-Sep 
2013
Oct-Dec 
2013
Jan-Mar 
2014
Pre-charge suspects
181,785
183,564
187,768
181,572
183,439
39,901
40,118
41,029
39,394
40,142
Attendance
152,315
153,235
156,942
151,463
154,547
38,406
38,610
39,481
38,136
38,694
Attendance on immigration issues
9
8
13
16
15
2
2
3
4
4
Duty solicitor standby (claims)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Telephone advice only
5,272
5,293
5,324
4,952
5,142
196
200
203
185
192
Telephone advice admin costs
..
..
..
..
..
665
709
733
490
672
CDS Direct telephone advice
22,662
23,785
24,250
24,020
22,572
356
378
377
372
363
Free standing advice and assistance (not in police station)
1,433
1,150
1,133
1,048
1,068
259
199
212
193
199
Warrants of further detention
94
93
106
73
95
17
19
20
14
18
Charged defendants1
3,943
3,558
3,433
2,976
3,011
1,719
1,478
1,390
1,185
1,291
Post charge police station advice and assistance
315
320
319
245
228
39
35
37
28
24
Refused means test form completion fee
354
340
314
364
333
11
10
9
11
10
Early cover
658
594
545
511
544
59
53
49
46
49
Preparation: representation order refused
912
751
838
708
773
52
43
48
40
44
Advice and assistance
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Advocacy assistance
177
194
178
120
123
47
68
56
36
42
Assistance by way of representation
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Appeals, reviews and other courts
1,059
1,009
884
746
757
1,354
1,150
1,067
928
1,035
Civil assistance on criminal matters
468
350
355
282
253
158
118
125
95
86
Firms claiming for file review payments
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Early first or administrative hearings
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Free standing advice and assistance
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Extended court sitting hours pilot
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Representation at Magistrates' court2
110,248
105,509
106,189
102,328
104,701
49,831
47,663
47,503
47,608
47,363
Lower standard fees
72,797
68,909
69,790
65,966
68,840
23,784
22,587
22,820
21,738
22,648
Higher standard fees
13,667
13,196
13,141
12,945
13,378
11,931
11,541
11,545
11,361
11,724
Non-standard fees and exempt cases
4,458
4,455
4,237
4,933
4,131
8,515
7,957
7,544
9,028
7,544
Second claims for deferred sentencing
233
193
175
170
175
82
66
62
58
56
Court duty solicitor (sessions)
19,093
18,756
18,846
18,314
18,177
5,519
5,513
5,533
5,424
5,391
Prison law
1,027
1,164
1,033
1,079
1,203
1,904
2,181
5,027
4,899
4,665
Free standing advice and assistance
8,116
7,608
7,063
6,560
5,521
2,942
2,742
2,599
2,411
2,061
Advocacy assistance at prison discipline hearings
1,088
1,084
1,037
1,031
1,042
472
432
424
434
412
Advocacy assistance at parole board hearings
1,027
1,164
1,033
1,079
1,203
1,904
2,181
2,004
2,054
2,192
1 No representation required or refused
2 Figures include Court duty solicitor sessions
41 

 
 
42 
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
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
2010-2011
202,233
184,966
191,929
181,032
9,257
8,784
71,247
66,075
474,666
440,857
2011-2012
222,449
203,774
214,444
203,742
14,157
13,385
21
18
451,071
420,919
2012-2013
199,690
183,086
196,907
187,267
12,662
11,900
19
19
409,278
382,272
2013-2014
183,093
168,933
201,254
193,295
9,734
9,244
32
31
394,113
371,503
2010-2011
Apr-Jun
29,410
27,030
27,979
26,607
861
819
70,331
65,278
128,581
119,734
Jul-Sep
60,519
55,306
57,179
53,903
2,399
2,282
813
709
120,910
112,200
Oct-Dec
54,702
49,897
53,393
50,262
2,744
2,614
70
58
110,909
102,831
Jan-Mar
57,602
52,733
53,378
50,260
3,253
3,069
33
30
114,266
106,092
2011-2012
Apr-Jun
55,781
50,995
52,845
50,026
3,263
3,084
11
8
111,900
104,113
Jul-Sep
59,682
54,842
56,233
53,472
3,842
3,625
5
5
119,762
111,944
Oct-Dec
52,031
47,612
52,130
49,603
3,502
3,329
2
2
107,665
100,546
Jan-Mar
54,955
50,325
53,236
50,641
3,550
3,347
3
3
111,744
104,316
2012-2013
Apr-Jun
50,047
45,608
48,997
46,410
3,243
3,027
16
16
102,303
95,061
Jul-Sep
52,566
48,244
51,567
49,005
3,355
3,166
1
1
107,489
100,416
Oct-Dec
47,892
43,986
47,724
45,434
3,112
2,914
98,728
92,334
Jan-Mar
49,185
45,248
48,619
46,418
2,952
2,793
2
2
100,758
94,461
2013-2014
Apr-Jun
46,135
42,404
49,846
47,804
2,802
2,651
29
28
98,812
92,887
Jul-Sep
47,827
44,102
50,790
48,702
2,573
2,444
101,190
95,248
Oct-Dec
43,508
40,227
49,701
47,782
2,397
2,286
1
1
95,607
90,296
Jan-Mar
45,623
42,200
50,917
49,007
1,962
1,863
2
2
98,504
93,072
1 In some applications the case type is not known and during system introduction this information was not recorded
Unknown1
Total
Summary only 
offences
Either way 
offences
Commital for 
sentence
 

 
 
43 
Table 3.2: Crown Court: legal aid applications and grants
Application grant rate of legal aid funding for cases heard at the Crown Court
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
57,366
57,366
28,761
28,761
11,664
11,256
4,125
3,846
101,916
101,229
2011-12
66,222
66,222
35,875
35,875
19,387
18,738
5,442
5,181
126,926
126,016
2012-13
54,757
54,756
34,079
34,079
18,565
17,881
5,206
4,975
112,607
111,691
2013-14
66,993
66,993
33,818
33,818
16,880
16,277
4,403
4,211
122,094
121,299
2010-11
Apr-Jun
6,683
6,683
3,950
3,950
1,165
1,122
551
520
12,349
12,275
Jul-Sep
16,402
16,402
9,910
9,910
3,243
3,119
1,285
1,208
30,840
30,639
Oct-Dec
16,487
16,487
9,070
9,070
3,666
3,547
1,294
1,219
30,517
30,323
Jan-Mar
17,794
17,794
5,831
5,831
3,590
3,468
995
899
28,210
27,992
2011-12
Apr-Jun
16,825
16,825
7,846
7,846
4,144
4,003
1,224
1,149
30,039
29,823
Jul-Sep
18,552
18,552
9,839
9,839
5,306
5,145
1,350
1,291
35,047
34,827
Oct-Dec
15,364
15,364
9,033
9,033
4,945
4,771
1,468
1,397
30,810
30,565
Jan-Mar
15,481
15,481
9,157
9,157
4,992
4,819
1,400
1,344
31,030
30,801
2012-13
Apr-Jun
13,636
13,636
8,485
8,485
4,694
4,509
1,329
1,269
28,144
27,899
Jul-Sep
13,968
13,968
8,563
8,563
4,945
4,774
1,325
1,264
28,801
28,569
Oct-Dec
13,440
13,440
8,655
8,655
4,500
4,330
1,355
1,295
27,950
27,720
Jan-Mar
13,713
13,712
8,376
8,376
4,426
4,268
1,197
1,147
27,712
27,503
2013-14
Apr-Jun
14,768
14,768
8,935
8,935
4,546
4,392
1,058
1,011
29,307
29,106
Jul-Sep
17,245
17,245
8,511
8,511
4,422
4,262
1,093
1,055
31,271
31,073
Oct-Dec
17,603
17,603
8,158
8,158
4,198
4,058
1,153
1,097
31,112
30,916
Jan-Mar
17,377
17,377
8,214
8,214
3,714
3,565
1,099
1,048
30,404
30,204
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
Total
Appeals1
Either way 
offences
Indictable 
offences
Commital for 
sentence
 

 
 
Table 4.1: Crime higher workload
Case volume, total value and average cost of legal aid funding for the crime higher legal aid scheme
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
Crime Higher schemes
Value 
(£'000)
Volume 
of case
Average 
case cost
Value 
(£'000)
Volume 
of case
Average 
case cost
Value 
(£'000)
Volume 
of case
Average 
case cost
Litigator Graduated Fee Scheme (LGFS)1
335,451
  
132,570
  
2,530
       
312,105
    
123,120
   
2,535
       
283,365
  
111,927
  
2,532
        
Advocate Graduated Fee Sceme (AGFS)1
221,170
  
114,081
  
1,939
       
240,260
    
120,109
   
2,000
       
220,785
  
118,408
  
1,865
        
Complex Crime Unit2,3
91,739
    
..
..
67,665
      
..
..
56,776
    
..
..
Proceeds of crime and escapes from GFS
23,096
    
7,918
     
2,917
       
16,322
      
7,833
      
2,084
       
15,312
    
7,540
     
2,031
        
Higher Courts
8,738
     
5,778
     
1,512
       
8,491
       
5,643
      
1,505
       
7,287
     
4,907
     
1,485
        
Court of Appeal
..
..
..
4,533
       
4,922
      
921
          
3,601
     
4,245
     
848
          
Supreme Court
..
..
..
662
          
21
           
31,531
     
314
        
13
          
24,172
      
Senior Court costs office
..
..
..
3,295
       
700
         
4,707
       
3,372
     
649
        
5,196
        
Total
680,194
  
260,347
  
2,613
       
644,842
    
256,705
   
2,512
       
583,526
  
242,782
  
2,403
        
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
 
44 

 
Table 4.2: Litigator Graduated Fee Scheme (LGFS)
Litigator Graduated Fee Scheme (LGFS), volume and value
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
     
78,556
     
42,722
   
5,364
       
1,820
     
533
       
261,234
 
2010-11
20,071
35,846
47,701
15,118
4,912
6,811
130,459
141,883
     
102,718
   
50,750
   
5,146
       
1,705
     
771
       
302,973
 
2011-12
20,967
33,676
47,040
18,879
4,758
7,250
132,570
162,376
     
106,855
   
57,316
   
6,442
       
1,629
     
834
       
335,451
 
2012-13
21,422
28,554
42,645
19,315
4,610
6,574
123,120
175,831
     
81,483
     
45,742
   
6,668
       
1,626
     
754
       
312,105
 
2013-14
19,511
23,604
43,854
16,491
3,794
4,673
111,927
172,341
     
60,344
     
43,112
   
5,689
       
1,332
     
548
       
283,365
 
2011-12
Apr-Jun
4,059
6,748
9,131
3,493
639
1,551
25,621
33,809
       
21,046
     
10,976
   
1,205
       
232
       
173
       
67,440
   
Jul-Sep
6,179
10,604
15,000
6,296
1,842
1,951
41,872
43,078
       
32,527
     
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
       
22,238
     
12,003
   
1,437
       
363
       
93
         
71,655
   
Jan-Mar
6,195
9,399
13,217
4,869
1,259
2,936
37,875
49,969
       
31,046
     
15,960
   
1,681
       
433
       
345
       
99,434
   
2012-13
Apr-Jun
5,602
8,308
11,385
4,611
1,042
1,532
32,480
44,018
       
24,991
     
12,965
   
1,604
       
364
       
174
       
84,116
   
Jul-Sep
5,048
6,698
10,195
4,886
1,231
1,679
29,737
44,726
       
20,057
     
10,757
   
1,684
       
436
       
198
       
77,858
   
Oct-Dec
5,706
7,174
11,158
4,989
1,236
1,730
31,993
45,725
       
18,421
     
11,977
   
1,690
       
441
       
196
       
78,449
   
Jan-Mar
5,066
6,374
9,907
4,829
1,101
1,633
28,910
41,363
       
18,014
     
10,044
   
1,690
       
385
       
186
       
71,682
   
2013-14
Apr-Jun
4,982
6,275
10,395
3,988
935
1,247
27,822
42,020
       
16,335
     
10,379
   
1,389
       
339
       
152
       
70,613
   
Jul-Sep
5,134
6,068
10,777
4,412
998
1,227
28,616
48,576
       
15,305
     
10,838
   
1,552
       
353
       
144
       
76,768
   
Oct-Dec
4,903
5,894
11,535
4,288
1,043
1,226
28,889
41,038
       
14,537
     
11,028
   
1,458
       
365
       
140
       
68,566
   
Jan-Mar
4,492
5,367
11,147
3,803
818
973
26,600
40,707
       
14,167
     
10,867
   
1,290
       
275
       
112
       
67,419
   
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
Volume
Value (£'000)
 
45 

 
Table 4.3: Advocate Graduated Fee Scheme (AGFS)
Advocate Graduated Fee Scheme (AGFS), volume and value
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
19,112
 
28,118
     
39,469
  
14,281
        
3,632
         
9,469
   
114,081
  
107,632
68,784
38,581
3,183
726
2,264
221,170
2012-13
22,481
 
26,968
     
41,039
  
16,593
        
3,780
         
9,248
   
120,109
  
140,500
58,660
34,647
3,555
749
2,149
240,260
2013-14
22,193
 
23,291
     
44,942
  
15,812
        
3,454
         
8,716
   
118,408
  
136,569
42,180
35,991
3,318
678
2,049
220,785
2011-12
Apr-Jun
1,844
   
3,210
       
4,767
    
1,285
          
388
            
2,008
   
13,502
    
9,550
7,420
4,722
310
81
431
22,513
Jul-Sep
4,312
   
6,932
       
10,178
  
3,873
          
1,043
         
1,746
   
28,084
    
23,664
16,280
10,184
856
200
428
51,613
Oct-Dec
5,995
   
8,336
       
11,897
  
4,253
          
1,064
         
2,850
   
34,395
    
34,488
21,084
11,600
949
219
678
69,017
Jan-Mar
6,961
   
9,640
       
12,627
  
4,870
          
1,137
         
2,865
   
38,100
    
39,931
24,001
12,075
1,067
226
727
78,026
2012-13
Apr-Jun
5,786
   
7,566
       
10,418
  
4,102
          
882
            
2,279
   
31,033
    
36,459
17,144
9,341
909
177
621
64,652
Jul-Sep
5,583
   
6,669
       
10,305
  
4,202
          
994
            
2,324
   
30,077
    
38,578
15,138
8,734
901
199
484
64,034
Oct-Dec
5,814
   
6,593
       
10,450
  
3,975
          
855
            
2,225
   
29,912
    
33,955
13,618
8,596
831
163
481
57,645
Jan-Mar
5,298
   
6,140
       
9,866
    
4,314
          
1,049
         
2,420
   
29,087
    
31,507
12,759
7,976
914
211
562
53,929
2013-14
Apr-Jun
5,684
   
6,245
       
10,738
  
3,609
          
822
            
1,973
   
29,071
    
32,765
11,769
8,877
745
163
433
54,750
Jul-Sep
5,739
   
5,783
       
10,731
  
4,233
          
875
            
2,231
   
29,592
    
40,866
10,563
8,718
897
173
556
61,774
Oct-Dec
5,377
   
5,590
       
11,504
  
4,066
          
920
            
2,298
   
29,755
    
30,498
9,938
9,057
867
182
541
51,083
Jan-Mar
5,393
   
5,673
       
11,969
  
3,904
          
837
            
2,214
   
29,990
    
32,440
9,910
9,339
809
161
519
53,178
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
Volume
Value (£'000)
 
46 

 
Table 4.4: Crown Court graduated fee schemes
Crown Court expenditure (£'000) on graduated fee schemes by offence type
Offence Classification1
Trial
Cracked 
Trial
Guilty 
Plea
Committal 
for 
Sentence
Appeal
Other2
Total
Trial
Cracked 
Trial
Guilty 
Plea
Committal 
for 
Sentence
Appeal
Other2
Total
A Homicide and related grave offences
67,943
   
5,521
     
1,209
     
28
               
12
          
13
          
74,726
   
54,971
4,107
1,493
21
9
21
60,622
   
B Offences involving serious violence or 
damage and serious drug offences
110,425
  
57,989
   
33,250
   
774
             
22
          
263
        
202,722
  
108,831
44,714
34,073
340
13
289
188,260
  
C Lesser offences involving violence or 
damage, and less serious drug offences
20,685
   
16,027
   
12,109
   
981
             
291
        
177
        
50,270
   
18,582
10,901
10,715
379
109
181
40,867
   
D Serious sexual offences and offences 
against children
8,716
     
3,252
     
1,842
     
115
             
27
          
10
          
13,963
   
7,727
1,995
1,373
55
6
20
11,176
   
E Burglary, etc
4,501
     
4,769
     
6,175
     
847
             
41
          
87
          
16,420
   
3,383
3,374
5,848
384
17
100
13,106
   
F Other offences of dishonesty
6,051
     
5,939
     
5,589
     
957
             
144
        
69
          
18,749
   
6,071
3,891
5,244
440
80
124
15,850
   
G Other offences of dishonesty
3,198
     
3,320
     
1,605
     
96
               
15
          
8
           
8,242
     
1,399
1,184
1,194
109
18
12
3,916
     
H Miscellaneous other offences
6,436
     
6,413
     
6,245
     
6,284
           
1,797
     
1,947
     
29,122
   
6,842
4,928
6,778
7,209
1,745
1,726
29,227
   
I Offences against public justice and similar 
offences
6,653
     
1,839
     
1,249
     
49
               
18
          
37
          
9,844
     
6,287
1,509
1,300
25
10
37
9,168
     
J Serious Sexual Offences
38,077
   
10,470
   
5,874
     
81
               
7
           
85
          
54,595
   
46,829
9,099
6,405
38
3
65
62,439
   
K Other offences of dishonesty (high value)
43,647
   
24,603
   
5,242
     
10
               
2
89
          
73,592
   
47,989
16,822
4,678
7
0
1
69,497
   
Total
316,331
  
140,143
  
80,390
   
10,222
         
2,376
     
2,785
     
552,246
  
308,910
  
102,524
  
79,103
   
9,007
          
2,010
     
2,575
     
504,129
  
1 Excludes cases where offence is unknown on the administrative system
2 The figures for other include Mags Committal fee, Breaches of Crown Court Orders, Elected cases not proceeded, Hearings Subsequent to Sentence and Contempt hearings
2012-13
2013-14
 
47 

 
Table 4.5: High Cost Crime cases
High Cost Cases- cases opened, contracts opened, contracts, and expenditure
Financial 
Year
Quarter
High Cost Crime 
Cases Opened
High Cost Crime 
Contracts Opened
High Cost Crime 
Contracts Closed
High Cost Crime 
Expenditure (£000s)
2006-07
56
417
426
104.57
2007-08
54
391
399
124.61
2008-09
63
437
433
112.09
2009-10
55
426
313
95.31
2010-11
33
264
460
93.09
2011-12
28
227
294
91.74
2012-13
20
112
222
67.66
2013-14
12
72
216
56.78
2011-12
Apr-Jun
4
55
75
20.24
Jul-Sep
14
65
62
20.68
Oct-Dec
9
79
103
27.90
Jan-Mar
1
28
54
22.92
2012-13
Apr-Jun
1
22
81
19.79
Jul-Sep
6
32
61
16.10
Oct-Dec
5
27
41
16.19
Jan-Mar
8
31
39
15.59
2013-14
Apr-Jun
5
17
57
17.82
Jul-Sep
4
24
37
15.14
Oct-Dec
3
24
69
13.20
Jan-Mar
0
7
53
10.62
 
48 

 
Table 5.1: Legal help matters started (count)
Legal help matters started for 2000-01 to 2013-14
Count
Type
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
Total 
803,828
764,697
811,848
709,769
654,267
783,455
851,023
807,459
893,812
942,882
803,914
705,295
592,368
172,501
(excluding Housing possession court duty scheme and Telephone operator service)
Family
318,496
317,903
338,888
299,188
272,903
283,830
280,466
263,009
287,004
309,054
270,048
234,481
205,617
42,798
Social Welfare
249,501
226,938
237,262
223,682
226,891
339,212
406,531
392,800
446,009
471,418
398,223
355,138
281,737
52,703
Community care
2,070
2,136
2,764
3,092
3,426
4,230
4,559
4,853
7,527
8,792
6,240
6,694
5,412
3,267
Debt
52,193
48,751
53,842
54,851
58,253
102,542
121,287
111,463
132,936
146,731
128,459
109,280
81,792
2,423
Employment
12,362
10,916
11,827
10,275
9,487
23,071
22,222
22,638
28,218
31,722
25,384
20,233
16,119
6
Housing
90,456
84,502
87,931
80,260
83,193
110,404
133,311
127,257
139,771
140,500
117,035
108,208
90,052
46,870
Welfare benefits
92,420
80,633
80,898
75,204
72,532
98,965
125,152
126,589
137,557
143,673
121,105
110,723
88,362
137
Low Volume
73,284
59,687
51,289
37,563
29,327
34,785
38,666
31,337
29,442
25,762
18,230
15,033
11,094
7,176
Actions against the police etc.
5,574
5,348
5,432
4,409
4,551
4,561
4,675
4,323
4,709
4,908
3,677
4,007
2,948
2,226
Clinical negligence
4,550
4,800
4,554
4,041
3,649
3,558
3,724
3,832
3,597
4,052
3,979
3,648
2,859
114
Consumer
12,194
9,239
7,321
4,985
3,891
3,848
3,827
3,360
3,084
2,776
1,227
550
335
0
Discrimination
2,384
Education
3,131
3,371
3,498
2,886
2,646
7,279
11,930
9,067
7,102
5,329
4,675
3,775
2,956
1,167
Personal injury
10,587
7,265
5,784
4,794
3,137
2,854
2,790
1,807
1,616
1,724
829
527
317
3
Public law
1,477
1,412
1,803
1,601
1,632
1,800
1,758
1,935
2,463
2,221
1,495
1,626
1,353
1,097
Miscellaneous
35,771
28,252
22,897
14,847
9,821
10,885
9,962
7,013
6,871
4,752
2,348
900
326
185
Tribunals
162,547
160,169
184,409
149,336
125,146
125,628
125,360
120,313
131,357
136,648
117,413
100,643
93,920
69,824
Immigration
138,841
134,238
155,865
120,440
94,236
91,317
91,037
84,899
94,983
98,539
82,790
61,129
52,710
28,038
Mental health
23,706
25,931
28,544
28,896
30,910
34,311
34,323
35,414
36,374
38,109
34,623
39,514
41,210
41,786
Housing possession court duty scheme
-
-
..
..
..
..
..
..
33,842
31,831
29,625
33,752
33,575
46,160
Telephone operator service
-
-
-
-
..
..
..
..
235,947
290,574
264,339
200,737
154,945
161,915
 
49 

 
Table 5.2: Legal help matters completed (count)
Legal help matters completed 2000-01 to 2013-14
Count
Type
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
Total 
761,583
748,890
798,033
756,569
715,837
786,522
876,071
735,436
756,446
904,261
815,340
674,848
602,241
328,319
(excluding Housing possession court duty scheme and Telephone operator service)
Family
297,125
292,852
312,845
304,730
286,215
281,540
274,681
243,177
255,120
267,088
255,650
227,933
200,598
122,247
Social Welfare
242,357
234,217
242,420
230,155
222,190
314,839
390,124
364,576
341,194
447,509
380,345
316,163
284,446
102,119
Community care
1,660
2,114
2,534
3,088
3,241
3,724
4,152
3,860
6,045
7,266
5,674
4,731
4,512
3,635
Debt
50,145
50,140
56,109
55,269
54,891
91,176
120,148
108,340
107,129
140,900
126,502
101,085
84,726
17,909
Employment
12,706
11,112
12,264
11,015
9,835
20,966
19,471
20,781
13,429
31,003
24,989
17,766
15,892
2,601
Housing
86,727
87,911
88,461
82,730
81,635
104,605
128,324
114,689
100,737
131,708
108,712
96,021
87,877
49,481
Welfare benefits
91,119
82,940
83,052
78,053
72,588
94,368
118,029
116,906
113,854
136,632
114,468
96,560
91,439
28,493
Low Volume
89,615
66,956
58,115
43,317
31,558
35,000
40,557
28,039
22,018
23,090
19,159
13,834
11,370
9,057
Actions against the police etc.
6,221
5,451
5,178
4,988
4,381
4,205
4,101
3,849
5,138
4,276
3,930
3,134
2,533
2,310
Clinical negligence
4,874
4,748
4,553
4,177
3,687
3,389
3,165
2,947
4,182
3,297
3,731
3,327
3,154
1,186
Consumer
14,491
10,619
8,817
6,413
4,110
4,494
3,923
3,160
3,196
3,048
1,689
701
469
191
Discrimination
2,787
Education
3,184
3,601
3,625
3,219
2,870
7,221
13,832
8,877
2,001
4,860
4,665
3,896
3,191
1,090
Personal injury
23,152
10,633
7,983
5,781
4,125
3,615
2,924
2,216
1,773
1,761
1,331
727
458
293
Public law
1,290
1,432
1,565
1,609
1,472
1,582
1,562
1,462
2,145
1,666
1,422
1,321
1,181
1,026
Miscellaneous
36,403
30,472
26,394
17,130
10,913
10,494
11,050
5,528
3,583
4,182
2,391
728
384
174
Tribunals
132,486
154,865
184,653
178,367
175,874
155,143
170,709
99,644
138,114
166,574
160,186
116,918
105,827
94,896
Immigration
108,600
128,456
156,184
147,614
142,674
121,032
135,472
65,970
102,792
128,771
120,616
77,230
62,833
49,211
Mental health
23,886
26,409
28,469
30,753
33,200
34,111
35,237
33,674
35,322
37,803
39,570
39,688
42,994
45,685
 
 
 
50 

 
Table 5.3: Legal help matters completed - Solicitors and NfP only (count)
Case volume, total value and average cost of legal aid funding for the Legal Help legal aid scheme
Type
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
Count
Total 
782,606
689,956
576,621
507,600
306,235
(excluding Housing possession court duty scheme, telephone advice service and Telephone operator service)
Family
255,873
229,736
206,488
180,893
116,127
Social Welfare
340,154
284,124
242,114
211,775
89,474
Community care
7,266
5,674
4,731
4,512
3,635
Debt
106,593
90,973
75,023
62,572
16,008
Employment
14,788
11,299
8,922
6,505
2,600
Housing
102,450
85,248
75,926
66,210
38,851
Welfare benefits
109,057
90,930
77,512
71,976
28,380
Low Volume
20,005
15,910
11,101
9,105
5,738
Actions against the police etc.
4,276
3,930
3,134
2,533
2,310
Clinical negligence
3,297
3,731
3,327
3,154
1,186
Consumer
3,048
1,689
701
469
191
Discrimination
Education
1,775
1,416
1,163
926
558
Personal injury
1,761
1,331
727
458
293
Public law
1,666
1,422
1,321
1,181
1,026
Miscellaneous
4,182
2,391
728
384
174
Tribunals
166,574
160,186
116,918
105,827
94,896
Immigration
128,771
120,616
77,230
62,833
49,211
Mental health
37,803
39,570
39,688
42,994
45,685
Value
Total 
256,275
241,758
205,828
178,102
133,160
(excluding Housing possession court duty scheme, telephone advice service and Telephone operator service)
Family
61,280
56,598
49,323
39,174
26,316
Social Welfare
76,293
68,332
60,678
50,699
24,537
Community care
2,808
2,500
2,285
2,251
2,024
Debt
23,928
21,387
17,859
13,957
3,847
Employment
4,781
4,387
3,955
2,730
1,359
Housing
22,596
20,149
18,781
15,805
10,274
Welfare benefits
22,180
19,908
17,799
15,956
7,033
Low Volume
5,899
5,950
5,314
4,938
3,617
Actions against the police etc.
1,587
1,731
1,596
1,444
1,301
Clinical negligence
972
1,271
1,237
1,285
588
Consumer
567
330
150
135
51
Discrimination
Education
1,239
1,199
1,231
1,153
888
Personal injury
460
430
247
178
175
Public law
615
670
684
651
552
Miscellaneous
459
320
169
93
62
Tribunals
112,803
110,877
90,513
83,291
78,691
Immigration
79,151
74,619
54,207
45,578
39,053
Mental health
33,652
36,257
36,306
37,713
39,637
51 

 
 
Table 6.1: Civil representation, applications received
Applications received for civil representation by category
Financial Year
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
Quarter
Apr-Jun
Jul-Sep Oct-Dec Jan-Mar
Apr-Jun
Jul-Sep Oct-Dec Jan-Mar
Apr-Jun
Jul-Sep Oct-Dec Jan-Mar
Total
187,588
 
176,375
 
190,641
 
113,180
 
42,787
 
45,623
 
43,403
 
44,562
 
43,543
 
45,515
 
44,248
 
57,335
 
34,550
 
26,334
 
26,430
 
25,866
 
Family
156,967
 
147,095
 
160,950
 
89,871
   
35,548
 
38,040
 
36,303
 
37,204
 
36,430
 
38,336
 
37,242
 
48,942
 
28,315
 
20,358
 
20,475
 
20,723
 
Combined family proceedings
8
           
12
         
8
           
2
           
2
         
5
         
4
         
1
         
2
         
1
         
2
         
3
         
2
         
Domestic violence
19,951
   
17,652
   
17,387
   
16,158
   
4,461
   
4,805
   
4,199
   
4,187
   
4,317
   
4,392
   
4,150
   
4,528
   
3,841
   
4,133
   
4,173
   
4,011
   
Financial provision
15,074
   
10,977
   
12,835
   
2,772
     
2,777
   
2,848
   
2,677
   
2,675
   
2,379
   
2,439
   
2,316
   
5,701
   
2,229
   
174
      
163
      
206
      
Other family proceedings
3,886
     
3,591
     
3,634
     
833
       
889
      
974
      
810
      
918
      
841
      
852
      
717
      
1,224
   
563
      
101
      
83
        
86
       
Other public law Children Act proceedings
8,286
     
8,176
     
8,842
     
7,610
     
1,982
   
2,070
   
2,025
   
2,099
   
2,089
   
2,038
   
2,159
   
2,556
   
1,911
   
1,862
   
1,817
   
2,020
   
Private law Children Act proceedings
68,434
   
61,693
   
70,149
   
16,501
   
14,992
 
15,767
 
14,990
 
15,944
 
15,626
 
16,185
 
15,551
 
22,787
 
7,990
   
2,935
   
2,721
   
2,855
   
Special Children Act proceedings
41,328
   
44,994
   
48,095
   
45,995
   
10,445
 
11,571
 
11,598
 
11,380
 
11,176
 
12,429
 
12,347
 
12,143
 
11,779
 
11,153
 
11,518
 
11,545
 
Social Welfare
16,298
   
15,189
   
15,260
   
12,836
   
3,708
   
3,968
   
3,737
   
3,776
   
3,675
   
3,708
   
3,711
   
4,166
   
3,371
   
3,216
   
3,260
   
2,989
   
Community care
1,009
     
909
       
1,001
     
937
       
231
      
224
      
238
      
216
      
221
      
236
      
273
      
271
      
242
      
263
      
226
      
206
      
Debt
722
       
410
       
355
       
209
       
108
      
131
      
83
        
88
       
103
      
88
       
80
        
84
       
85
       
44
       
45
        
35
       
Employment
117
       
117
       
91
         
25
         
28
       
37
       
28
        
24
       
31
       
22
       
12
        
26
       
9
         
4
         
8
         
4
         
Housing
14,401
   
13,708
   
13,767
   
11,642
   
3,323
   
3,566
   
3,380
   
3,439
   
3,309
   
3,355
   
3,335
   
3,768
   
3,028
   
2,900
   
2,976
   
2,738
   
Welfare benefits
49
         
45
         
46
         
23
         
18
       
10
       
8
         
9
         
11
       
7
         
11
        
17
       
7
         
5
         
5
         
6
         
Low Volume
10,730
   
10,054
   
9,893
     
5,413
     
2,589
   
2,601
   
2,322
   
2,542
   
2,318
   
2,307
   
2,256
   
3,012
   
1,529
   
1,318
   
1,348
   
1,218
   
Actions against the police etc.
1,667
     
1,689
     
1,879
     
1,289
     
406
      
403
      
390
      
490
      
460
      
438
      
486
      
495
      
339
      
310
      
343
      
297
      
Clinical negligence
4,313
     
4,039
     
3,853
     
821
       
1,001
   
1,107
   
937
      
994
      
890
      
862
      
749
      
1,352
   
294
      
178
      
170
      
179
      
Consumer
746
       
384
       
297
       
73
         
121
      
93
       
83
        
87
       
83
       
83
       
45
        
86
       
61
       
4
         
4
         
4
         
Discrimination
1
           
22
         
1
         
6
         
3
         
8
         
5
         
Education
197
       
182
       
203
       
82
         
63
       
39
       
34
        
46
       
50
       
46
       
57
        
50
       
29
       
23
       
23
        
7
         
Personal injury
77
         
38
         
19
         
9
           
14
       
8
         
11
        
5
         
4
         
5
         
6
         
4
         
2
         
4
         
1
         
2
         
Public law
2,305
     
2,724
     
2,811
     
2,528
     
685
      
678
      
645
      
716
      
592
      
653
      
735
      
831
      
691
      
706
      
688
      
443
      
Miscellaneous
1,425
     
998
       
830
       
589
       
299
      
273
      
222
      
204
      
239
      
220
      
178
      
193
      
107
      
90
       
111
      
281
      
Tribunals
3,593
     
4,037
     
4,538
     
5,060
     
942
      
1,014
   
1,041
   
1,040
   
1,120
   
1,164
   
1,039
   
1,215
   
1,335
   
1,442
   
1,347
   
936
      
Immigration
2,955
     
3,278
     
3,849
     
4,440
     
798
      
800
      
820
      
860
      
939
      
999
      
868
      
1,043
   
1,186
   
1,290
   
1,198
   
766
      
Mental health
638
       
759
       
689
       
620
       
144
      
214
      
221
      
180
      
181
      
165
      
171
      
172
      
149
      
152
      
149
      
170
      
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
 
52 

 
Table 6.2: Civil representation, certificates granted
Certificates granted including grants for emergency certificates for civil representation by category
Financial Year
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
Quarter
Apr-Jun
Jul-Sep Oct-Dec Jan-Mar
Apr-Jun
Jul-Sep Oct-Dec Jan-Mar
Apr-Jun
Jul-Sep Oct-Dec Jan-Mar
Total
153,602
 
148,274
 
150,453
 
107,944
 
34,867
 
37,575
 
37,527
 
38,305
 
36,134
 
37,791
 
36,444
 
40,084
 
34,771
 
25,144
 
23,541
 
24,488
 
Family
130,706
 
125,949
 
127,767
 
89,638
   
29,579
 
32,135
 
31,955
 
32,280
 
30,562
 
32,278
 
31,085
 
33,842
 
29,871
 
20,664
 
19,149
 
19,954
 
Combined family proceedings
10
         
12
         
5
           
2
           
2
         
4
         
4
         
2
         
2
         
1
         
2
         
2
         
Domestic violence
18,038
   
16,257
   
15,720
   
15,231
   
4,088
   
4,397
   
3,806
   
3,966
   
3,914
   
3,968
   
3,680
   
4,158
   
3,629
   
4,023
   
3,751
   
3,828
   
Financial provision
9,846
     
7,336
     
6,201
     
3,815
     
1,619
   
1,786
   
2,049
   
1,882
   
1,486
   
1,493
   
1,481
   
1,741
   
2,795
   
725
      
166
      
129
      
Help with mediation
1
           
Other family proceedings
1,353
     
1,390
     
1,353
     
399
       
304
      
366
      
378
      
342
      
325
      
363
      
321
      
344
      
295
      
59
       
23
        
22
       
Other public law Children Act proceedings
6,994
     
6,990
     
7,280
     
6,695
     
1,676
   
1,713
   
1,775
   
1,826
   
1,765
   
1,794
   
1,765
   
1,956
   
1,779
   
1,622
   
1,533
   
1,761
   
Private law Children Act proceedings
53,358
   
49,113
   
49,218
   
16,662
   
11,321
 
12,406
 
12,610
 
12,776
 
11,876
 
12,235
 
11,861
 
13,246
 
9,343
   
2,930
   
2,091
   
2,298
   
Special Children Act proceedings
41,106
   
44,851
   
47,990
   
46,834
   
10,569
 
11,463
 
11,333
 
11,486
 
11,196
 
12,423
 
11,976
 
12,395
 
12,028
 
11,305
 
11,585
 
11,916
 
Social Welfare
13,424
   
12,985
   
13,102
   
11,588
   
3,061
   
3,351
   
3,141
   
3,432
   
3,151
   
3,209
   
3,162
   
3,580
   
2,959
   
2,861
   
2,788
   
2,980
   
Community care
857
       
759
       
830
       
581
       
182
      
186
      
180
      
211
      
186
      
196
      
233
      
215
      
145
      
146
      
139
      
151
      
Debt
366
       
231
       
192
       
138
       
58
       
79
       
42
        
52
       
53
       
47
       
51
        
41
       
56
       
37
       
25
        
20
       
Employment
66
         
62
         
53
         
12
         
14
       
15
       
19
        
14
       
11
       
16
       
7
         
19
       
8
         
2
         
2
         
Housing
12,112
   
11,911
   
12,011
   
10,849
   
2,801
   
3,068
   
2,895
   
3,147
   
2,898
   
2,946
   
2,869
   
3,298
   
2,748
   
2,676
   
2,621
   
2,804
   
Welfare benefits
23
         
22
         
16
         
8
           
6
         
3
         
5
         
8
         
3
         
4
         
2
         
7
         
2
         
3
         
3
         
Low Volume
6,460
     
6,165
     
5,935
     
3,727
     
1,432
   
1,387
   
1,588
   
1,758
   
1,523
   
1,430
   
1,355
   
1,627
   
1,284
   
797
      
787
      
859
      
Actions against the police etc.
1,048
     
1,161
     
1,219
     
744
       
281
      
238
      
281
      
361
      
304
      
302
      
291
      
322
      
231
      
156
      
146
      
211
      
Clinical negligence
2,905
     
2,638
     
2,399
     
1,032
     
593
      
615
      
691
      
739
      
671
      
595
      
496
      
637
      
540
      
184
      
139
      
169
      
Consumer
285
       
149
       
122
       
54
         
37
       
39
       
31
        
42
       
39
       
38
       
27
        
18
       
42
       
10
       
2
         
Discrimination
1
           
4
           
1
         
2
         
1
         
1
         
Education
139
       
125
       
137
       
43
         
39
       
25
       
27
        
34
       
27
       
34
       
42
        
34
       
14
       
15
       
11
        
3
         
Personal injury
28
         
6
           
8
           
2
           
3
         
1
         
2
         
4
         
2
         
1
         
1
         
1
         
1
         
Public law
1,484
     
1,692
     
1,797
     
1,567
     
377
      
359
      
463
      
493
      
395
      
407
      
433
      
562
      
398
      
396
      
447
      
326
      
Miscellaneous
571
       
394
       
252
       
281
       
102
      
110
      
93
        
89
       
83
       
52
       
65
        
52
       
56
       
35
       
41
        
149
      
Tribunals
3,012
     
3,175
     
3,649
     
2,991
     
795
      
702
      
843
      
835
      
898
      
874
      
842
      
1,035
   
657
      
822
      
817
      
695
      
Immigration
2,494
     
2,566
     
3,143
     
2,538
     
675
      
540
      
674
      
677
      
772
      
744
      
717
      
910
      
562
      
704
      
718
      
554
      
Mental health
518
       
609
       
506
       
453
       
120
      
162
      
169
      
158
      
126
      
130
      
125
      
125
      
95
       
118
      
99
        
141
      
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
 
53 

 
Table 6.3: Civil representation, certificates completed
Certificates completed for civil representation by category
Financial Year
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13 2013-141
Quarter
Apr-Jun
Jul-Sep Oct-Dec Jan-Mar
Apr-Jun
Jul-Sep Oct-Dec Jan-Mar
Apr-Jun
Jul-Sep Oct-Dec Jan-Mar
Total
129,570
 
138,171
 
137,365
 
147,548
 
31,261
 
36,858
 
34,189
 
35,863
 
34,514
 
32,953
 
34,763
 
35,135
 
36,583
 
35,297
 
36,622
 
39,046
 
Family
108,170
 
117,574
 
118,205
 
129,374
 
26,471
 
31,463
 
28,857
 
30,783
 
29,195
 
28,452
 
30,019
 
30,539
 
32,021
 
30,755
 
32,230
 
34,368
 
Combined family proceedings
30
         
22
         
10
         
8
           
5
         
4
         
5
         
8
         
4
         
2
         
1
         
3
         
2
         
1
         
2
         
3
         
Domestic violence
15,749
   
16,066
   
15,214
   
14,231
   
3,506
   
4,250
   
3,861
   
4,449
   
3,968
   
3,751
   
3,805
   
3,690
   
3,653
   
2,992
   
3,529
   
4,057
   
Financial provision
10,537
   
9,396
     
7,724
     
7,023
     
2,207
   
2,463
   
2,507
   
2,219
   
2,191
   
1,934
   
1,831
   
1,768
   
1,721
   
1,628
   
2,044
   
1,630
   
Help with mediation
145
       
51
         
26
         
8
           
17
       
16
       
11
        
7
         
11
       
9
         
4
         
2
         
3
         
2
         
3
         
-
      
Other family proceedings
1,085
     
1,193
     
1,138
     
1,198
     
241
      
334
      
287
      
331
      
279
      
291
      
281
      
287
      
340
      
319
      
239
      
300
      
Other public law Children Act proceedings
6,395
     
6,316
     
6,236
     
6,954
     
1,531
   
1,674
   
1,521
   
1,590
   
1,526
   
1,441
   
1,649
   
1,620
   
1,674
   
1,681
   
1,644
   
1,955
   
Private law Children Act proceedings
46,168
   
48,818
   
44,940
   
44,249
   
10,984
 
13,629
 
11,959
 
12,246
 
11,755
 
10,837
 
10,939
 
11,409
 
11,636
 
11,144
 
10,835
 
10,634
 
Special Children Act proceedings
28,061
   
35,712
   
42,917
   
55,703
   
7,980
   
9,093
   
8,706
   
9,933
   
9,461
   
10,187
 
11,509
 
11,760
 
12,992
 
12,988
 
13,934
 
15,789
 
Social Welfare
11,670
   
11,309
   
10,983
   
11,311
   
2,443
   
2,939
   
3,071
   
2,856
   
3,054
   
2,553
   
2,635
   
2,741
   
2,752
   
2,772
   
2,837
   
2,950
   
Community care
701
       
705
       
685
       
706
       
138
      
147
      
214
      
206
      
200
      
134
      
169
      
182
      
157
      
167
      
176
      
206
      
Debt
326
       
287
       
219
       
179
       
70
       
82
       
74
        
61
       
70
       
52
       
53
        
44
       
45
       
47
       
44
        
43
       
Employment
68
         
46
         
39
         
27
         
9
         
13
       
17
        
7
         
13
       
4
         
10
        
12
       
8
         
8
         
5
         
6
         
Housing
10,506
   
10,254
   
10,021
   
10,386
   
2,220
   
2,692
   
2,762
   
2,580
   
2,769
   
2,359
   
2,397
   
2,496
   
2,535
   
2,545
   
2,612
   
2,694
   
Welfare benefits
69
         
17
         
19
         
13
         
6
         
5
         
4
         
2
         
2
         
4
         
6
         
7
         
7
         
5
         
-
       
1
         
Low Volume
7,263
     
7,001
     
5,988
     
5,019
     
1,830
   
1,770
   
1,661
   
1,740
   
1,761
   
1,433
   
1,495
   
1,299
   
1,304
   
1,291
   
1,157
   
1,267
   
Actions against the police etc.
834
       
786
       
841
       
794
       
178
      
184
      
171
      
253
      
259
      
185
      
202
      
195
      
196
      
231
      
168
      
199
      
Clinical negligence
3,301
     
3,542
     
2,764
     
2,355
     
973
      
869
      
829
      
871
      
813
      
683
      
691
      
577
      
592
      
595
      
549
      
619
      
Consumer
435
       
336
       
223
       
150
       
89
       
81
       
90
        
76
       
63
       
55
       
62
        
43
       
36
       
37
       
40
        
37
       
Discrimination
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Education
221
       
173
       
113
       
111
       
39
       
55
       
49
        
30
       
34
       
24
       
23
        
32
       
31
       
25
       
30
        
25
       
Personal injury
529
       
354
       
284
       
87
         
119
      
71
       
90
        
74
       
112
      
60
       
80
        
32
       
31
       
23
       
8
         
25
       
Public law
1,165
     
1,241
     
1,313
     
1,222
     
294
      
355
      
293
      
299
      
336
      
302
      
341
      
334
      
338
      
306
      
283
      
295
      
Miscellaneous
778
       
569
       
450
       
300
       
138
      
155
      
139
      
137
      
144
      
124
      
96
        
86
       
80
       
74
       
79
        
67
       
Tribunals
2,467
     
2,287
     
2,189
     
1,844
     
517
      
686
      
600
      
484
      
504
      
515
      
614
      
556
      
506
      
479
      
398
      
461
      
Immigration
2,218
     
1,939
     
1,790
     
1,461
     
444
      
600
      
518
      
377
      
404
      
435
      
517
      
434
      
404
      
392
      
318
      
347
      
Mental health
249
       
348
       
399
       
383
       
73
       
86
       
82
        
107
      
100
      
80
       
97
        
122
      
102
      
87
       
80
        
114
      
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%.
2011-12
2012-13
2013-141
54 

 
Table 6.4: Civil representation costs met by LAA
Volume and total value of the Civil Representation cases which have completed within this financial year
Civil representation
Volume 
Solicitors' 
profit costs 
(£'000)
Disburse - 
ments 
(£'000)
Counsel's 
fees (£'000)
Total cost 
(£'000)
Volume 
Solicitors' 
profit costs 
(£'000)
Disburse - 
ments 
(£'000)
Counsel's 
fees (£'000)
Total cost 
(£'000)
Total
133,315
 
489,597
     
120,889
   
162,217
     
772,702
   
143,545
 
527,394
     
114,554
   
160,571
      
802,518
   
Family
117,991
451,302
110,316
140,828
702,446
129,161
492,958
106,297
143,334
742,588
Combined family proceedings
10
21
2
7
30
8
20
2
8
30
Domestic violence
15,204
34,406
5,798
6,991
47,196
14,211
31,906
4,601
5,815
42,322
Financial provision
7,554
21,431
2,819
5,806
30,056
6,855
17,727
2,356
4,986
25,069
Help with Mediation
25
26
1
0
28
8
9
0
0
9
Other family proceedings
1,119
2,890
675
782
4,347
1,193
3,907
758
1,334
5,999
Other public law Children Act proceedings
6,231
20,836
4,671
10,691
36,198
6,953
18,633
3,754
8,398
30,785
Private law Children Act proceedings
44,932
118,582
25,149
31,588
175,319
44,238
110,547
19,165
28,479
158,192
Special Children Act proceedings
42,916
253,108
71,202
84,963
409,273
55,695
310,208
75,662
94,313
480,182
Social Welfare
9,727
17,463
2,105
9,641
29,208
9,882
17,004
1,943
8,487
27,435
Community care
613
1,761
279
758
2,799
610
1,664
159
662
2,485
Debt
201
544
71
407
1,022
161
388
44
214
646
Employment
38
77
5
62
144
26
45
2
39
86
Housing
8,857
15,031
1,719
8,294
25,044
9,073
14,895
1,736
7,502
24,133
Welfare benefits
18
49
31
120
200
12
13
2
70
85
Low Volume
3,777
15,258
7,573
7,834
30,665
3,167
11,903
5,554
5,631
23,088
Actions against the police etc.
315
908
313
754
1,976
355
1,077
379
651
2,107
Clinical negligence
1,581
6,896
5,693
1,500
14,089
1,320
5,881
4,449
1,058
11,389
Consumer
188
550
160
453
1,163
109
549
78
479
1,106
Education
101
319
68
157
544
97
256
43
162
461
Personal injury
171
1,014
172
183
1,370
54
375
76
128
579
Public law
1,059
2,826
362
2,271
5,459
994
2,622
362
2,301
5,285
Miscellaneous
362
2,744
803
2,516
6,063
238
1,143
166
851
2,161
Tribunals
1,820
5,575
895
3,914
10,384
1,335
5,528
760
3,119
9,407
Immigration
1,436
1,955
264
2,384
4,604
959
1,459
205
1,209
2,873
Mental health
384
3,620
631
1,530
5,780
376
4,069
555
1,910
6,534
1 Data does not include cases completed in the LAA’s new CCMS system, including these would increase completed volumes by an 
estimated 0.6% and total value by less than 0.5%.
2012-2013
2013-14
 
55 

 
Table 6.5: Civil representation costs met by opponent
Volume and total value of the Civil Representation cases which have completed within this financial year
Civil representation
Volume 
Solicitors' 
profit costs 
(£'000)
Disburse - 
ments 
(£'000)
Legal aid 
only costs 
(000s)
Counsel's 
fees (£'000)
Total cost 
(£'000)
Volume 
Solicitors' 
profit costs 
(£'000)
Disburse - 
ments 
(£'000)
Legal aid 
only costs 
(000s)
Counsel's 
fees (£'000)
Total cost 
(£'000)
Total
4,050
     
94,411
       
24,755
     
2,338
       
21,973
       
143,476
    
4,003
     
84,116
       
22,474
     
2,004
       
21,033
        
129,627
    
Family
214
1,433
165
396
381
2,376
213
1,768
150
431
590
2,939
Domestic violence
10
54
7
43
11
114
20
172
13
33
103
320
Financial provision
170
1,117
129
233
300
1,779
168
1,431
127
286
456
2,300
Help with Mediation
1
3
0
1
0
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
Other family proceedings
19
227
25
26
55
334
5
78
6
2
17
103
Other public law Children Act proceedings
5
25
2
42
13
83
1
1
0
0
1
2
Private law Children Act proceedings
8
8
1
51
1
61
11
61
4
24
12
101
Special Children Act proceedings
1
1
0
1
0
1
8
25
0
86
2
113
Social Welfare
1,256
7,754
1,025
644
1,992
11,414
1,429
9,414
1,181
544
2,570
13,709
Community care
72
828
60
120
389
1,397
96
1,279
72
91
491
1,932
Debt
18
138
13
3
61
216
18
202
24
26
67
318
Employment
1
7
0
0
1
8
1
2
1
0
4
6
Housing
1,164
6,777
952
521
1,536
9,786
1,313
7,928
1,085
428
2,008
11,448
Welfare benefits
1
3
0
0
5
8
1
4
0
0
0
5
Low Volume
2,211
83,288
23,411
1,169
18,298
126,165
1,852
70,122
20,935
671
16,286
108,013
Actions against the police etc.
526
8,447
1,397
124
1,848
11,816
439
7,437
1,068
59
1,714
10,279
Clinical negligence
1,183
64,295
19,884
467
11,933
96,579
1,035
54,518
18,476
242
10,824
84,060
Consumer
35
378
58
11
135
582
41
458
52
3
153
666
Discrimination
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Education
12
156
11
7
33
207
14
230
22
37
95
385
Personal injury
113
4,265
1,321
4
1,025
6,615
33
2,681
827
12
733
4,253
Public law
254
3,938
326
378
2,363
7,005
228
3,265
278
295
2,034
5,872
Miscellaneous
88
1,809
416
177
961
3,362
62
1,533
211
22
733
2,498
Tribunals
369
1,936
154
129
1,303
3,522
509
2,812
207
359
1,587
4,965
Immigration
354
1,719
132
123
1,184
3,157
502
2,774
206
355
1,577
4,911
Mental health
15
217
22
6
119
364
7
38
2
4
11
55
2012-2013
2013-14
 
56 

 
57 
Table 6.6: Civil representation outcomes
Outcomes reported and the benefits received by funded clients for the civil representation scheme. 
Stages reached and % with substantive benefits to client
s
Proceedings issued 
but concluded before 
final hearing
s
Proceedings issued 
and concluded at a 
final hearing
Category of law
Volume
% 
Benefit
Volume % Benefit
Volume % Benefit
Total number 
in sample
% Substantive 
benefit to 
client
Total number 
in sample
% Substantive 
benefit to 
client
Total
9,121
     
47%
57,069
       
73%
78,515
       
64%
144,705
         
67%
134,138
         
68%
Family
3,892
     
44%
48,902
       
73%
74,096
       
65%
126,890
         
67%
115,922
         
69%
Combined family proceedings
1
           
0%
3
               
67%
3
               
100%
7
                   
71%
7
                   
86%
Domestic violence
674
       
34%
7,708
         
83%
5,579
         
82%
13,961
           
80%
14,801
           
80%
Financial provision
846
       
59%
3,711
         
86%
2,263
         
71%
6,820
             
78%
7,412
             
83%
Help with Mediation
4
           
75%
2
               
100%
0
0%
6
                   
83%
25
                 
88%
Other family proceedings
83
         
40%
744
            
63%
348
            
71%
1,175
             
64%
1,111
             
64%
Other public law Children Act proceedings
166
       
34%
2,135
         
56%
4,521
         
66%
6,822
             
62%
6,102
             
61%
Private law Children Act proceedings
1,911
     
41%
27,023
       
73%
14,839
       
75%
43,773
           
73%
44,266
           
74%
Special Children Act proceedings
207
       
52%
7,576
         
61%
46,543
       
59%
54,326
           
59%
42,198
           
60%
Social Welfare
2,513
     
56%
5,126
         
80%
3,480
         
67%
11,119
           
70%
10,698
           
71%
Community care
495
       
69%
130
            
84%
36
              
47%
661
                
71%
680
                
66%
Debt
21
         
48%
82
             
70%
64
              
58%
167
                
62%
206
                
65%
Employment
5
           
0%
8
               
63%
12
              
25%
25
                 
32%
39
                 
54%
Housing
1,988
     
53%
4,904
         
80%
3,365
         
67%
10,257
           
70%
9,756
             
71%
Welfare benefits
4
           
0%
2
               
0%
3
               
0%
9
                   
0%
17
                 
35%
Low Volume
2,242
     
38%
2,053
         
71%
593
            
54%
4,888
             
54%
5,612
             
51%
Actions against the police etc.
229
       
35%
454
            
78%
103
            
50%
786
                
62%
826
                
67%
Clinical negligence
1,258
     
30%
902
            
77%
172
            
66%
2,332
             
51%
2,674
             
46%
Consumer
58
         
40%
50
             
80%
28
              
43%
136
                
55%
199
                
46%
Education
67
         
75%
24
             
67%
14
              
43%
105
                
69%
107
                
62%
Personal injury
11
         
45%
19
             
89%
16
              
56%
46
                 
67%
152
                
53%
Public law
545
       
52%
486
            
50%
174
            
48%
1,205
             
51%
1,266
             
50%
Miscellaneous
74
         
46%
118
            
73%
86
              
55%
278
                
60%
388
                
59%
Tribunals
474
       
65%
988
            
50%
346
            
45%
1,808
             
53%
1,906
             
56%
Immigration
417
       
68%
866
            
49%
149
            
36%
1,432
             
53%
1,513
             
56%
Mental health
57
         
46%
122
            
61%
197
            
52%
376
                
54%
393
                
56%
Previous year
No proceedings 
issued

 
Table 7.1: Mediation assessments
Civil representation willingness test and mediation assessments, volume and value, 2006-07 to 2013-14
Financial 
Year
Quarter
Willingness 
Test Volume
Willingness 
Test 
Expenditure
Assessments 
1
Assessment 
meeting - 
separate
Assessment 
meeting - 
together
Assessment 
meeting - 
alone
Assessment 
meeting - 
separate
Assessment 
meeting - 
together
Assessment 
meeting - 
alone
Assessment 
Expenditure
2006-07
48,419
1,741,691
22,758
33,923
5,796
7,784
2,754,465
    
602,003
        
657,373
       
4,013,840
    
2007-08
48,122
1,561,669
22,665
34,056
5,637
7,841
3,117,433
    
708,733
        
729,803
       
4,555,969
    
2008-09
52,272
1,511,846
24,152
38,546
4,879
8,061
3,884,716
    
733,279
        
814,937
       
5,432,932
    
2009-10
59,451
1,705,811
27,138
44,763
4,756
9,633
4,475,338
    
708,383
        
968,172
       
6,151,893
    
2010-11
60,441
1,771,474
26,388
44,446
4,164
10,882
4,530,008
    
631,379
        
1,115,181
    
6,276,568
    
2011-12
66,421
1,976,385
31,338
54,538
4,068
14,784
5,633,630
    
627,341
        
1,535,281
    
7,796,253
    
2012-13
64,783
1,931,165
30,662
54,557
3,382
18,147
5,646,718
    
524,537
        
1,881,850
    
8,053,106
    
2013-14
147
4,410
13,354
24,293
1,207
4,777
2,503,837
    
186,129
        
492,696
       
3,182,662
    
2011-12
Apr-Jun
17,006
506,005
7,769
13,273
1,132
3,556
1,371,335
    
173,905
        
369,981
       
1,915,221
    
Jul-Sep
17,516
520,955
8,221
14,253
1,094
3,942
1,470,682
    
168,985
        
409,937
       
2,049,603
    
Oct-Dec
15,485
460,755
7,364
12,868
930
3,442
1,329,061
    
143,286
        
357,249
       
1,829,596
    
Jan-Mar
16,414
488,670
7,984
14,144
912
3,844
1,462,554
    
141,165
        
398,114
       
2,001,833
    
2012-13
Apr-Jun
15,201
453,285
7,383
12,901
932
3,574
1,336,465
    
144,496
        
370,164
       
1,851,124
    
Jul-Sep
15,050
448,480
7,334
13,045
811
3,930
1,349,889
    
125,818
        
408,332
       
1,884,039
    
Oct-Dec
13,828
412,180
6,680
11,862
749
3,680
1,227,156
    
116,181
        
381,401
       
1,724,738
    
Jan-Mar
20,704
617,220
9,265
16,749
890
6,963
1,733,209
    
138,042
        
721,954
       
2,593,205
    
2013-14
Apr-Jun
88
2,640
3,936
7,134
369
1,530
736,403
      
57,332
         
158,417
       
952,152
       
Jul-Sep
9
270
3,337
6,052
311
1,181
623,976
      
47,632
         
122,074
       
793,681
       
Oct-Dec
3
90
2,860
5,138
291
901
529,469
      
44,902
         
92,784
        
667,154
       
Jan-Mar
47
1,410
3,221
5,969
236
1,165
613,989
      
36,263
         
119,422
       
769,674
       
1 Figures for assessments include those with both parties in attendance and half of the attendance volume where both parties appear separately.
Volume
Value (£)
 
58 

 
Table 7.2: Mediations
Civil representation mediation starts and mediation outcomes, volume and value, 2006-07 to 2013-14
Financial 
Year
Quarter
Mediation 
starts
Agreements 
reached
Full 
Agreement
Partial 
Agreement
No 
Agreement
Full 
Agreement
Partial 
Agreement
No 
Agreement
Expenditure
2006-07
13,918
      
8,996
8,535
461
4,616
4,739,392
264,902
1,503,736
6,508,031
2007-08
13,239
      
9,164
8,680
484
4,304
4,820,979
265,691
1,460,163
6,546,833
2008-09
13,537
      
8,989
8,485
504
4,375
4,949,272
297,509
1,451,159
6,697,940
2009-10
14,745
      
9,939
9,376
563
4,297
5,434,720
342,596
1,457,982
7,235,298
2010-11
14,186
      
9,920
9,352
568
4,101
5,269,125
354,599
1,374,201
6,997,924
2011-12
15,357
      
9,799
9,263
536
4,827
5,039,026
340,963
1,537,904
6,917,892
2012-13
13,609
      
9,076
8,632
444
4,911
4,490,601
260,900
1,556,017
6,307,518
2013-14
8,400
        
6,613
6,291
322
3,028
3,186,251
191,774
913,655
4,291,680
2011-12
Apr-Jun
3,781
        
2,359
2,235
124
1,090
1,246,093
81,403
368,359
1,695,855
Jul-Sep
4,025
        
2,481
2,339
142
1,246
1,294,122
91,271
381,416
1,766,808
Oct-Dec
3,735
        
2,425
2,290
135
1,199
1,225,308
85,031
379,961
1,690,300
Jan-Mar
3,816
        
2,534
2,399
135
1,292
1,273,503
83,258
408,168
1,764,929
2012-13
Apr-Jun
3,566
        
2,508
2,375
133
1,223
1,242,265
79,430
392,483
1,714,178
Jul-Sep
3,519
        
2,325
2,220
105
1,255
1,171,306
54,285
381,510
1,607,101
Oct-Dec
3,242
        
2,234
2,131
103
1,189
1,114,759
61,699
375,001
1,551,460
Jan-Mar
3,282
        
2,009
1,906
103
1,244
962,270
65,486
407,023
1,434,779
2013-14
Apr-Jun
2,700
        
2,123
2,018
105
958
1,048,183
63,904
286,979
1,399,066
Jul-Sep
2,085
        
1,759
1,675
84
777
848,534
53,914
232,977
1,135,425
Oct-Dec
1,876
        
1,435
1,373
62
653
690,141
34,512
201,795
926,448
Jan-Mar
1,739
        
1,296
1,225
71
640
599,394
39,444
191,904
830,742
Volume
Value (£)
 
59 

 
Table 8.1: Appeals – against representation decision
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
Category of law
Number of 
appeals
Number 
granted
% Granted
Number of 
appeals
Number 
granted
% Granted
Number of 
appeals
Number 
granted
% Granted
Number of 
appeals
Number 
granted
% Granted
Family
7,203
870
12%
8,033
1,002
12%
7,252
803
11%
6,736
745
11%
Combined family proceedings
2
0
0%
2
0
0%
0
0 ..
0
0
..
Domestic violence
760
128
17%
816
132
16%
642
103
16%
651
147
23%
Financial provision
1,418
114
8%
1,189
112
9%
1,066
92
9%
1,109
82
7%
Help with Mediation
1
0
0%
3
2
67%
2
0
0%
0
0
..
Other family proceedings
377
18
5%
361
20
6%
394
39
10%
310
15
5%
Other public law Children Act proceedings
466
38
8%
565
50
9%
485
47
10%
543
58
11%
Private law Children Act proceedings
3,690
443
12%
4,360
476
11%
4,269
482
11%
3,591
370
10%
Special Children Act proceedings
489
129
26%
737
210
28%
394
40
10%
532
73
14%
Social welfare
1,182
126
11%
1,264
154
12%
1,016
86
8%
853
64
8%
Community care
90
11
12%
152
15
10%
144
8
6%
122
9
7%
Debt
132
7
5%
46
4
9%
54
2
4%
28
4
14%
Employment
16
1
6%
11
1
9%
16
1
6%
2
0
0%
Housing
940
106
11%
1,049
133
13%
796
75
9%
701
51
7%
Welfare benefits
4
1
25%
6
1
17%
6
0
0%
0
0
..
Low volume
2,078
217
10%
1,769
123
7%
1,274
80
6%
903
63
7%
Actions against the police etc.
301
32
11%
204
21
10%
182
8
4%
165
9
5%
Clinical negligence
944
109
12%
962
58
6%
650
42
6%
399
25
6%
Consumer
292
26
9%
125
4
3%
99
7
7%
44
7
16%
Discrimination
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
Education
56
11
20%
64
9
14%
43
7
16%
23
3
13%
Personal injury
30
0
0%
20
0
0%
20
0
0%
9
1
11%
Public law
207
20
10%
231
19
8%
176
10
6%
211
17
8%
Miscellaneous
248
19
8%
163
12
7%
104
6
6%
49
1
2%
Tribunals
10,871
        
1,329
          
12%
11,590
        
1,375
          
12%
10,144
        
1,059
          
10%
9,092
          
948
             
10%
Immigration
165
49
30%
212
43
20%
257
43
17%
266
34
13%
Mental health
39
9
23%
50
5
10%
44
2
5%
34
4
12%
Total
10,667
1,271
12%
11,328
1,327
12%
9,843
1,014
10%
8,792
910
10% 
60 

 
Table 8
 
ed
2013-14
eans
e
 
 
ns
s
Total
Merits
Means
Merits & 
means 
Total
1,133
60
2
 
,250
78
2,474
1,276
945
96 2,317 
1
43%
%
 
51%
3%
-
55%
41%
4% 
- 
ation into repres
o
827
516
69
 
791
69
1,759
1,097
562
51 1,710 
.2 : Appeals – against representation provid
Upon the granting of public funding opponents may make representations against the grant or continuation of funding. 
2011-12
2012-13
M rits &
e
Merits & 
mean
Merits
M
Total
Merits
Mea
m ans
Number re eived
c
1,370
%
1
,663
-
1,146
%
1
(As % of total) 
5
6
46
Outcome of investig
entati ns
No change 
1,412
899
 
Application refused
34
9
2
45
67
9
5
81
43
6
5 
54 
Certificate amended
6
30
4
40
11 
30
0
41
13
32
3 
48 
Certificate discharged
165
90
19
274
156 
61
5
222
213
96
8 
317 
Certificate revoked
14
210
23
247
16 
271
14
301
19
186
10 
215 
Total representations closed out
1,046
 
855
 
 
117
 
 
2,018
 
1,149 
  
1,162
  
93
 
 
2,404
 
1,385
 
882
 
 
77 
 
 
2,344 
  
61 

 
62 
Table 9: Civil Legal Help – Providers available
Volume of civil procurement area level provider contracts valid on the last day of the reported period, by category of law
2011-1
2013-14
 of law
A
olicit
s
Telephone 
adv
e 
erv
e
i
P
e 
dvice 
ervice
All Solicitors
NFP
Telephone 
advice 
service 
05
1,956
7
4
2,075
1,972
100
3 
t the 
e e
1
79
0
0
76
76
0
0 
ence
28
0
0
283
0
0
270
270
0
0 
are
1
127
31
0
116
91
25
0 
2
2012-13
Telephon
ll S
NFP
NF
Category
or
ic
All Sol citors
a
s
ic
s
Family 
8
4
2,
2
2,040
1,945
tc  
Actions agains
g
po ic
l
.
81
8
0
0
79 
Clinical negli
6
286
283
96 
Community c
40
101
39
0
Consumer
3
9
37
8
0
0
0
0
0 
35
1
7
337
240
8
662
432
225
5 
-
-
-
-
-
3
0
0
3 
2
5
2
26
18 
5
3
3
0
0
3 
Employment 
179
100
76
3
169
92 
74
3
0
0
0
0 
Housing
530
324
203
3
509
308
198
3
660
431
224
5 
Immigration
226
187
39
0
212
178
34
0
418
351
67
0 
Mental health 
192
189
3
0
257
254
3
0
250
246
4
0 
Personal injury 
116
116
0
0
113
113
0
0
0
0
0
0 
Public law 
109
95
14
0
113
99 
14
0
113
99
14
0 
Welfare benefits
359
86
268
5
345
86 
252
7
15
4
11
0 
Total non-family
2,640
1,707
913
20
2,607
1,724
859
24
2,586
2,000
570
16
Total
4,692
3,747
921
24
4,563
3,669
866
28
4,661
3,972
670
19
Please note that this table does not include the social welfare law (SWL) contracts held by community legal advice centres as these are issued
under a different basis from other contracts
Licence only, and specialist Immigration Removal Centre contracts are also excluded
7
2
8
0
29 
Debt
6
9
258
89 
Discrimination
Education
-
-
-
29
2

 
63 
Table 10: Overall Summary Acts of Assistance and Expenditure since 2007-08
Number of acts of assistance and fund spend split by crime and civil areas.
Financial Year
Type
Area 
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
Acts of Assistance ('000s)
Crime Lower1
1,379
1,432
1,408
1,338
1,252
1,235
1,203
Crime Higher2
124
124
126
131
139
123
121
Crime total
1,502
1,556
1,534
1,469
1,391
1,358
1,324
Legal Help3
835
1,164
1,266
1,096
940
782
381
Civil Representation4
166
150
165
150
146
144
116
Civil total
1,000
1,314
1,431
1,246
1,086
925
497
Total
2,503
2,870
2,965
2,715
2,477
2,283
1,821
Expenditure (£m)
Crime Lower
476
498
463
444
431
385
367
Crime Higher
674
677
657
686
670
591
541
Crime total
1,150
1,175
1,121
1,130
1,101
975
909
Legal Help
254
274
324
278
223
184
130
Civil Representation 
541
613
792
707
755
758
671
Civil total
795
887
1,116
985
978
942
801
Total
1,945
2,062
2,237
2,115
2,078
1,917
1,710
3 Legal Help acts of assistance are based on new matter starts
4 Civil Representation acts of assistance includes granted civil representation applications and family mediation work
1 Crime lower acts of assistance are based on claim volumes and exclude second claims for deferred sentencing.
2 Crime higher acts of assistance are based on the number of representation orders granted for the Crown Court
 

 
64 
Annex A - Glossary of key terms 
Terms used in the report and tables are explained below. 
Act of assistance: Volumes of work dealt with are usually called an act of 
assistance and this is a measure of when a case starts (also see new 
matter starts). Although used as a proxy to show the number of people 
helped, they do not equate exactly as some clients may have received more 
than one act of assistance during the year and some acts of assistance may 
help more than one person. 
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.  

 
65 
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. 
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 

 
66 
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 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 

 
67 
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. 
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. 

 
68 
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.  
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. 

 
69 
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.  
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. 
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.

 
70 
Annex B - Explanatory notes 
The statistics in this bulletin relate to work by the LAA in England and Wales 
during 12 months ending March 2014.  
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, one for LGFS 
(Crown Court Legal Fees – CCLF) and another for AGFS (Crown Court 
Remuneration – CCR) they respectively provide the spend and work 
provided information for much of the Crime Higher data. 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 Admin 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. 
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. 
The annual account figures used within this report are audited on a regular 
basis by the National Audit Office. Other numbers provided in this report use 
the same methodology as those used to produce the annual account figures 
and are continuously quality assured by the LAA. Figures are compared to 
other sources of data where possible, random individual case checks are 
performed and comparisons with other internal reports undertaken.  
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  

 
71 
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 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 purpose of this criminal justice statistics publication, the late data will 
be reviewed on a quarterly basis but, unless it is deemed to make significant 
changes to the statistics released; revisions will only be made as part of the 
final release containing the year’s statistics. Should the review show that the 
late data has had a major impact on the statistics then revisions will be 
released as part of the subsequent publication. 
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. 
Uses of the statistics  
The main users of these statistics are departmental teams responsible for 
coordinating responses and requests to FOIs and PQs, Ministers and 
officials with responsibility for developing policy. The statistics are used to 
monitor the overall workload figures for the legal aid system. 
Official Statistics 
This Statistical Release is published at 9.30am on a date which has been 
pre-announced on the United Kingdom Statistics Authority Publication Hub 
(http://www.statistics.gov.uk/hub/index.html). 
A list of officials who have received pre-release access to this Statistical 
Release up to 24 hours in advance of publication is available on the 
Department’s website 
(https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-
justice/about/statistics#publication-schedule) 
Next Publication 
The next release, Legal Aid Statistics Quarterly, will be released in 
September 2014. 

 
72 
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: 
Mike Elkins 
Chief Statistician 
Justice Statistics Analytical Services 
Ministry of Justice 
7th Floor 
102 Petty France 
London 
SW1H 9AJ 
Tel: xx-xxxx-xxxx 
Email: 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