Original document : https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-legal-aid-manual

Change description : 2025-05-21 18:39:00: Manual updated to reflect that from 21 May, proceedings under s.44(2)(b), s.46(4) and s.46(5) of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 are in scope of criminal legal aid. State Benefits also updated with the latest rates. [Guidance and regulation]

Showing diff : 2025-02-03 09:00:19.946096082 +00:00..2025-05-21 17:39:11.850915789 +00:00

Guidance

Criminal Legal Aid Manual

If your client is charged, legal aid may pay for some or all of the costs of legal representation in court. Find the specific guidance here.

From:
Legal Aid Agency
Published
1 June 2014
Last updated
321 FebruaryMay 2025 — See all updates

Applies to England and Wales

Documents

Criminal Legal Aid Manual

PDF, 1.531.73 MB, 199 pages

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Details

Details about criminal legal aid, including eligibility, are in this Criminal Legal Aid Manual.

Updates to this page

Published 1 June 2014

Last updated 321 FebruaryMay 2025 + show href="#full-history">+ show all updates

    3. Manual updated to reference Advantis Credit Ltd. who took over the contract for Crown Court means testing (CCMT) debt collection and enforcement services on behalf of the Legal Aid Agency from the previous supplier Marston Holdings Ltd. with effect from 3 February 2025.

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Update history

2025-05-21 18:39
Manual updated to reflect that from 21 May, proceedings under s.44(2)(b), s.46(4) and s.46(5) of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 are in scope of criminal legal aid. State Benefits also updated with the latest rates.

2025-02-03 09:00
Manual updated to reference Advantis Credit Ltd. who took over the contract for Crown Court means testing (CCMT) debt collection and enforcement services on behalf of the Legal Aid Agency from the previous supplier Marston Holdings Ltd. with effect from 3 February 2025.

2024-11-27 10:17
Manual updated to reflect the Domestic Abuse Protection Orders and Notices pilot.

2024-11-20 00:01
Manual updated to include the new mandatory and discretionary disregards for certain compensation payments.

2024-08-06 09:00
Manual updated to reflect the transition from the CRM14 eForm to the Apply for criminal legal aid service.

2024-05-02 14:12
Manual updated to explain the process for applications for partially convicted defendants to pay a proportion of their costs. State Benefit rates have also been updated.

2023-03-30 12:07
Manual updated to reflect a change to the name and email addresses for one of our teams – Criminal Finance is now Magistrates Billing.

2023-01-20 09:00
Manual updated to include the variation, renewal, discharge and appeals of Serious Violence Reduction Orders (SVROs) as prescribed proceedings.

2023-01-10 09:00
Manual updated to include cost of living payments introduced in 2022 as disregarded income.

2022-11-24 09:10
Manual updated form to reflect the extension of the pilot being run in the Metropolitan Police District on Knife Crime Prevention Orders to 31 March 2023.

2022-09-30 10:00
Manual updated form to reflect the 2022 Standard Crime Contract.