News story

Crime news: proposals to reform defence advocates' pay published

Consultation on reforming payments for Crown Court work through the Advocates’ Graduated Fee Scheme opens 5 January 2017.

Payments for Crown Court legal aid work by criminal defence advocates are the subject of a government consultation called ‘Reforming the Advocates’ Graduated Fee Scheme’.

The consultation opens for 8 weeks on 5 January 2017 and proposes a new structure for the Advocates Graduated Fee Scheme (AGFS).

Proposed reform

AGFS was last subject to reform in 2007 and is in need of modernisation.

The measures in the government’s consultation are designed to reduce reliance on factors such as the number of pages in a case and instead focus on the seriousness and complexity of the work done.

A key aim is to increase certainty and transparency for advocates and put more emphasis on payment for in-court advocacy.

Further information

Consultation: reforming AGFS

MOJ press release

Published 5 January 2017