The Criminal Legal Aid (Remuneration) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/435) (“the 2013 Regulations”) make provision for the remuneration of advice, assistance and representation made available under sections 13, 15 and 16 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10). These Regulations amend the 2013 Regulations in relation to claims for and payment of fees to advocates for representation in criminal proceedings in the Crown Court. No change is made to the amount of fees that are payable under the 2013 Regulations.

Regulation 2 amends the 2013 Regulations to provide that claims for fees by advocates must be made by and paid to the “trial advocate” (the advocate who attends the main hearing and, in relation to trials, the advocate who attends on the first day). The amendments do not affect staged payments in long proceedings, which relate solely to preparation done before trial.

Regulation 3 provides that the amendments made by regulation 2 apply to determinations of representation for criminal proceedings made on or after 5th May 2015.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen.