Legal aid for inquests: changes to fee schemes

Overview

The consultation sets out proposals to change the Civil Legal Aid (Remuneration) Regulations 2013 (‘the Remuneration Regulations’) for civil legal aid, to:

• introduce a single fee scheme for legal help work conducted for inquests (we would introduce this change after Royal Assent of the Bill); and
• bring together fee rates for service elements of legal help (including preparation and attendance, travel and waiting, and routine letters and calls) and advocacy into one place for family members receiving legal aid advocacy (we would make this change subject to successful passage of the Government amendment and Royal Assent of the Bill).

This consultation is aimed at anyone with an interest in the provision of legal aid for inquests conducted within England and Wales. This will include, but is not limited to, members of the legal profession and their professional representative bodies, coroners and other members of the judiciary, and bereaved families who have experience of the inquest process and accessing legal aid.