
1 

(1) These Rules may be cited as the Legal Aid in Criminal Proceedings (Costs) (Amendment) Rules (Northern Ireland) 1996 and shall come into operation on 29th June 1996.
(2) In these Rules, “the principal Rules” means the Legal Aid in Criminal Proceedings (Costs) Rules (Northern Ireland) 1992.
2 
Rules 4 and 5 shall apply for the purposes of work done on or after 30th June 1996 to which the principal Rules apply.
3 
In rules 6(3) and 9(5)(a) of the principal Rules for the date “30th June 1996” there shall be substituted “30th June 1997”.
4 
Schedule 1 to the principal Rules shall be amended as follows—
(a) for paragraph 1 of Part I, there shall be substituted the paragraph set out in Schedule 1;
(b) for the table set out in paragraph 4(3) of Part II, there shall be substituted the table set out in Schedule 2.
5 
Schedule 2 to the principal Rules shall be amended as follows—
(a) for the table set out in paragraph 8 of Part I of Schedule 2, there shall be substituted the table set out in Schedule 3;
(b) for Table 1 set out in Part II of Schedule 2, there shall be substituted the table set out in Schedule 4.
Mackay of Clashfern, C.
Dated 3rd June 1996We approve
Bowen Wells
Derek Conway
Two of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Treasury
Dated 4th June 1996
SCHEDULE 1
Rule 4(a)
1 
Subject to paragraphs 2 and 3, the appropriate authority shall allow fees for work allowed by it under rule 6 at the following basic rates:

Class of work Rate
Preparation £44·75 per hour
Advocacy £56·50 per hour
Attendance at court where counsel assigned £30·50 per hour
Travelling and waiting £24·75 per hour
Routine letters written and routine telephone calls £3·45 per item

Class of work Grade of fee-earner Rate
Preparation Senior solicitor £53·00 per hour
 Solicitor or fee-earner of equivalent experience £45·00 per hour
 An apprentice or a pupil to a solicitor or fee-earner of equivalent experience £29·75 per hour
Advocacy Senior Solicitor £64·50 per hour
 Solicitor £56·00 per hour
Attendance at court where counsel assigned Senior solicitor £42·25 per hour
 Solicitor or fee-earner of equivalent experience £34·00 per hour
 An apprentice or a pupil to a solicitor or fee- earner of equivalent experience £20·50 per hour
Travelling and waiting Senior solicitor £24·75 per hour
 Solicitor or fee-earner of equivalent experience £24·75 per hour
 An apprentice or a pupil to a solicitor or fee- earner of equivalent experience £12·50 per hour
Routine letters written and routine telephone calls  £3·45 per item
SCHEDULE 2
Rule 4(b)

TABLE
Type of Proceedings Lower standard fee Lower fee limit Principal standard fee Upper fee limit
Crown Court trials (including any case prepared for trial which was otherwise disposed of) £129·50 £179·00 £249·50 £312·00
Guilty pleas £81·50 £110·00 £175·00 £226·00
Appeals to the county court against conviction £51·00 £68·00 £153·00 £233·00
Appeals to the county court against sentence £36·25 £52·00 £93·00 £131·00
Proceedings of the type described in paragraph 1(2)(d) £42·50 £51·00 £97·75 £141·00

Class of Work Grade of fee-earner Rate
ADVOCACY Senior solicitor £64·50 per hour
 Solicitor £56·00 per hour
ATTENDANCE AT COURT WHERE COUNSEL ASSIGNED Senior solicitor £42·25 per hour
 Senior solicitor Solicitor or fee-earner of equal experience £42·25 per hour £34·00 per hour
 An apprentice or a pupil to a solicitor or fee- earner of equivalent experience £20·50 per hour
TRAVELLING AND WAITING Senior solicitor £24·75 per hour
 Solicitor or fee-earner of equivalent experience £24·75 per hour
 An apprentice or a pupil to a solicitor or fee- earner of equivalent experience £12·50 per hour
SCHEDULE 3
Rule 5(a)


Type of Proceedings Standard basic fee
Trials (including any case prepared for trial which is otherwise disposed of) £240·00
Guilty pleas £205·00
Appeals to the county court against conviction £117·00
Appeals to the county court against sentence £84·00
Proceedings of the type described in paragraph (d) £73·50
Standard appearance fee £46·50
Standard refresher fee

(1) Half day £86·00

(2) Full day £166·00

(3) More than a full day £251·00
Standard written work fee £30·00
SCHEDULE 4
Rule 5(b)


TABLE 1: JUNIOR COUNSEL
Court Type of proceedings Basic Fee Full day refresher fee Subsidiary Fees
    Attendance at consultations, conferences and views Written work Attendance at applications and other appearances
Magistrates' Court All cases Maximum amount: £468·00 Maximum amount: £162·00 £29·25 per hour Minimum amount: amount: £14·50 Maximum amount: £51·25 Maximum amount: £94·00
County Court Appeals against conviction Maximum amount: £210·00
 Appeals against sentence Maximum amount:£107·50 Maximum amount: £178·75 £33·50 per hour Minimum amount: £16·75 Maximum amount: £58.25 Maximum amount: £99·50
Crown Court Trials Maximum amount: £545·50    
 Cases prepared for trial which are otherwise disposed of Maximum amount: £317·75 Maximum amount: £236·50 £33·50 per hour Minimum amount: £16·75 Maximum amount: £58·25 Maximum amount: £99·50
 Guilty Pleas Maximum amount: £260·00    
 Proceedings of the type described in paragraph 7(d) Maximum amount: £107·50    
High Court Bail applications Maximum amount: £71·00    