The Legal Aid for Crown Court Proceedings (Costs) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2005

Claims for costs by solicitors

7.—(1) Subject to rule 19, no claim by a solicitor for costs in respect of work done under a criminal aid certificate shall be entertained unless he submits it within three months of the conclusion of the proceedings to which the criminal aid certificate relates or within three months of his receipt of a copy of the certificate, whichever is the later.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), a claim for costs shall be submitted to the Commission in such form and manner as it may direct and shall be accompanied by any receipts or other documents in support of any disbursement claimed.

(3) A claim shall –

(a) summarise, where appropriate, the items of work done by a fee-earner in respect of which fees are claimed according to the classes of fee specified in rule 8(3);

(b) state the dates on which the items of work were done, the time taken where appropriate, the sums claimed and whether the work was done for more than one assisted person;

(c) specify, where appropriate, the fee-earner who undertook each of the items of work claimed;

(d) give particulars of any work done in relation to more than one indictment or a retrial; and

(e) specify any disbursements claimed, the circumstances in which they were incurred and the amounts claimed in respect of them.

(4) Where a solicitor claims that rule 8(4) should be applied in relation to an item of work, he shall give full particulars in support of his claim.

(5) Where there are any special circumstances which should be drawn to the attention of the Commission, the solicitor shall specify them.

(6) The solicitor shall supply such further particulars, information and documents as the Commission may require.