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Justice Update
15 March 2022
Type
Written Ministerial Statement
Department
Ministry of Justice
At a Glance
Issue Summary
The Minister of Justice announces the launch of the government’s response to the Criminal Legal Aid Independent Review (CLAIR) and the Means Test Review consultation.
Action Requested
The minister proposes a fee uplift for criminal defence practitioners by 15%, with an additional £20m p.a. investment in various areas, bringing total funding to £135m p.a., and includes measures like increased eligibility thresholds for legal aid, removing upper income limits for Crown Court defendants, excluding certain assets from means tests, and exempting specific civil legal aid cases from means testing.
Key Facts
- The fee uplift for criminal defence practitioners by 15% will inject an additional £115m p.a. at steady state.
- An extra £20m p.a. is allocated for reforms including the Litigators Graduated Fee Scheme, youth court investment, and training contracts.
- Total investment in criminal legal aid will reach £135m p.a., the highest level in a decade.
- 3.5 million more people will be eligible for criminal legal aid at magistrates’ courts due to increased income thresholds.
- All Crown Court defendants will become eligible for legal aid regardless of income.
- Domestic abuse victims will find it easier to access legal aid by excluding certain assets from the means test.
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