New Criminal Legal Aid Rules

The Criminal Defence Service Act - Partial Regulatory
Impact Assessment
DCA Information
26 May 2006
New legal aid rules from 2 October 2006 with all defendants requiring means test:
"It is difficult to identify whether some firms will be more
affected than others, as this will be dependent on the type of
work undertaken, or the type of customer that it attracts. For
example, firms that represent a greater proportion of their
clients in straightforward matters at the magistrates' court may
be more affected than firms representing clients in serious cases
in the Crown Court, as there may be a greater number of defendants
who are ineligible for public funding for the less serious cases.
The Department accepts that there may also be a risk that those
defendants who are refused public funding due to their means, are
unable or unwilling to pay for the help they receive at private
rates.".