The Legal Aid for Youth Conferences (Costs) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2003

Allowance of standard fees

1.—(1) The Commission shall allow the standard fee for the youth conference which has been claimed by a solicitor (together with the appropriate standard fee for travelling and waiting) unless –

(a) where the principal standard fee has been claimed, the conference lasted no more than one hour in which case the lower standard fee shall be allowed, or

(b) where a fee in excess of the principal standard fee has been claimed, in which case (if the conference lasted in excess of two hours) an additional fee of £44·75 per hour shall be allowed.

(2) A solicitor who has been allowed a lower fee than that claimed may –

(a) accept the lower fee, or

(b) request the Commission in writing to review its decision.

(3) Where the Commission is requested to review its decision under sub-paragraph (2)(b), the Commission shall either –

(a) allow the fee claimed; or

(b) request the solicitor to provide a detailed claim in the form directed by the Commission, and then redetermine the solicitor’s fees.

(4) Where a solicitor fails to make a request under sub-paragraph (2)(b) or to supply a detailed claim for the purpose of sub-paragraph (3)(b) within 6 weeks of the decision to allow the lower fee or the request to supply a detailed claim, whichever is the later, the decision to allow the lower fee shall be deemed to be confirmed.