6th March 2025
Details
On Friday 6th December 2024, a much welcomed legal funding update came into force for Youth Court legal aid work .
The lord chancellor, Shabana Mahmood, has allocated additional funding of:
- £18.5 million to legal aid work carried out in police stations
- £5.1 million has been allocated to increase the pay for solicitors taking on youth court legal aid work for the most serious offences by £598.59 per case.
- £400,000 to reimburse travel time for solicitors who work or commute to work in areas with fewer than two legal aid providers, as well as the Isle of Wight
She notes:
Criminal legal aid solicitors play a crucial role in our justice system, often carrying out incredibly complex work in challenging circumstances.
This Government is determined to improve the criminal legal aid sector which was left neglected for years. This is the first step to stabilising the sector and ensuring that those who take on these cases are properly compensated for their work.- Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Shabana Mahmood
Commentary
The Youth Court is uniquely equipped to handle and support children facing serious charges, ensuring they receive the specialist support and legal expertise they require. In recent years there has been an increasing expectation that more and more serious cases should be heard in the Youth Court. This much-needed funding is a vital step towards properly recognising and remunerating those with the youth justice knowledge and experience required to advocate for children effectively. Together with the recognition that more certificates of counsel should be granted in the Youth Court cases, it reinforces the importance of skilled representation in securing fair outcomes for children in the justice system.
Written by
Ife Thompson, Barrister, Nexus Chambers