Civil legal aid: minimum 10% fee uplift for housing and immigration lawyers

A minimum 10% uplift in civil legal aid rates - the first increase in 30 years - is part of a £20m-a-year investment announced by the government today. However, the uplift will only apply to two contract areas of law.

The Ministry of Justice announced today that it will consult in January on increasing legal aid fees for those working in the housing (housing and debt) and immigration (immigration and asylum) sectors. Fees will be increased to a rate in the region of £65/£69 per hour (non-London/London), or a 10% uplift, whichever is higher.

Fixed fees will be uplifted by an amount proportional to the increase in the underlying hourly rate for that work. This will be implemented in 2025-26 with costs scaling up to £20m by 2027-28.

However, providers in the nine other contract areas of law, such as mental health, education, community care and discrimination, face a longer wait for any fee uplift. The ministry said it will continue to consider the fees paid in other categories of civil legal aid, including as part of the second phase of the government’s spending review due next Spring.

Lord chancellor Shabana Mahmood said: 'This government is determined to improve the civil legal aid sector which was left neglected for years. This is an important step as we rebuild our justice system, ensuring it is fit for purpose for the society it serves and those who serve within it.' 

Today's announcement follows a major civil legal aid review commenced under the previous administration. The Law Society demanded a 20% increase across the sector as an interim measure to save the fragile sector from collapse.