Response to Independent Review of Criminal Legal Aid

Overview

In December 2021 the department published Sir Christopher Bellamy QC’s independent review into criminal legal aid. This explored what is working well and what more could be done to improve criminal legal aid for providers and the public.

We want to:

• Use legal aid to increase the efficiency of the criminal justice system;
• Deliver fair pay for work done; and
• Increase the sustainability and stability of the criminal defence professions.

This consultation now sets out our proposals to reform criminal legal aid and uplift fees in line with these overarching objectives. The consultation seeks views on the implementation of these proposals and their impact on the wider criminal justice system.

This consultation is open to anyone who wishes to make a contribution, but may be of most interest to:

• Criminal defence professional representative bodies
• CILEX professional, solicitors, solicitors’ firms, barristers, chambers and other criminal defence practitioners
• Those otherwise working in the criminal justice system or working with and for suspect and defendants.