News In Focus
2 November 2007
Legal aid fees to increase
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has announced a significant increase in legal aid fees for solemn criminal cases.
The increase will be brought in alongside substantial reforms to the structure of legal aid, and is the equivalent of a 7% increase against the current fee levels. The regulations to implement the increase are to be introduced in April 2008.
Taken alongside previous increases this represents an overall rise in fee levels of 25% since the new system of fees was introduced in 1992.
Speaking at a conference on legal aid in Dunblane run jointly by the Law Society of Scotland and the Scottish Legal Aid Board, Mr MacAskill said: “This Government is committed to ensuring that solicitors are paid appropriately and fairly for the work they do. This increase in legal aid fees for solemn cases is long overdue and is a tangible example of this Government’s commitment to the legal profession.”
Oliver Adair, convener of the Law Society of Scotland's Legal Aid (Solicitors) Committee, said: "The Law Society of Scotland welcomes the positive announcement made by the minister today, and in particular welcomes the increase in solemn criminal legal aid rates in a year of restricted public spending.
"The Society will urgently consult with the profession and hopes that an effective, revised system for solemn criminal legal aid can be introduced quickly."