Citation and Commencement
1. These Rules may be cited as the Legal Aid for Crown Court Proceedings (Costs) (Amendment) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2019 and shall come into operation on 22nd July 2019.
Amendment to the Legal Aid for Crown Court Proceedings (Costs) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2005
2. The Legal Aid for Crown Court Proceedings (Costs) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2005(1) are amended as follows.
3. In Schedule 1, after paragraph 16A, insert─
“16B.—(1) This paragraph applies to a Referral Hearing which means a hearing at which the court considers the exercise of its powers under section 9 of the Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2016(2).
(2) The time-based fee specified in the Table below as appropriate to the representative (including the category of counsel instructed, as applicable) and to the duration of the hearing shall be payable.
TABLE OF REFERRAL HEARING FEES
| Solicitor Fee | Queen’s Counsel Fee | Leading Junior Counsel Fee | Led Junior Counsel Fee | Sole Junior Counsel Fee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hearing not exceeding 1.5 hours | £113 | £100 | £94 | £63 | £82 |
| Hearing exceeding 1.5 hours but not exceeding 3 hours | £188 | £200 | £150 | £100 | £130 |
| Hearing exceeding 3 hours | £375 | £400 | £300 | £200 | £260” |
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Justice on 27th June 2019
Peter May
A senior officer of the Department of Justice
The Department of Finance hereby approves the foregoing Rules
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Finance on 28th June 2019
Emer Morelli
A senior officer of the Department of Finance