Exceptional Hardship
April 24, 2025Crown Court Solicitors
April 24, 2025Criminal Funding
Criminal Funding
Legal Aid / Private Representation
At Daniel Woodman & Co., Solicitors, we’re committed to making high-quality legal representation accessible.
We hold a contract with the Legal Aid Agency, which means we can offer eligible clients Legal Aid funding for representation at the Police Station, Youth Court, Magistrates’ Court, and Crown Court.
DETAILS
Legal Aid Eligibility
If you’ve been arrested, our attendance at the police station is completely free of charge regardless of your financial circumstances.
For representation at the Magistrates’ or Crown Court, Legal Aid eligibility is based on two criteria:
- A means test (your financial situation)
- An interests of justice test (how serious your case is and whether you need legal representation)
Clarity on Fees
Fixed Fee for Motoring Offence
In accordance with the Solicitors’ Regulatory Transparency Rules, we are required to ensure that members of the public have accurate and relevant information about a solicitor or firm when they are considering purchasing certain legal services.
The services specified in the regulations which are applicable to the areas of law practised by this firm relate to the provision of advice and representation at the Magistrates Court in relation to summary only road traffic offences dealt with at a single hearing. A summary only offence is an offence which can only be dealt with at a Magistrates Court.
The most common examples of offence are:
- Speeding
- Driving without insurance
- Careless Driving
- Failing to provide a specimen
- Failing to stop after an accident
- Driving a vehicle whilst over the prescribed limit for alcohol
- Driving otherwise in accordance with a licence
Fixed Fees vs Hourly Rate
We should also say that the level of cost involved will be dependent on whether you choose to instruct a solicitor to represent you in this matter on the basis that time is charged at an hourly rate or whether we are able to that a fixed fee will be applicable.
If you instruct the solicitor on the basis of an hourly rate (plus VAT at the rate of 20%) then the rate at which you will be charged is set out below:
- Senior Partners & Senior Barristers – £300 per hour– Fee Earner Level A
- Solicitors, Barristers & Legal Executives – £250 per hour – Fee Earner Level B
- Trainees, Paralegals, Caseworkers & other Fee Earners – £200 per hour – Fee Earner Level C
For more information as to the status of a solicitor for the purpose of this guidance please refer to the individual profiles that can be found on this website. We can offer a fixed fee of £1,000 plus VAT (at the rate of 20%) in the following circumstances:
- Where you have been summonsed or charged at the police station with one of the offences listed above, for a Fee Earner Level B.
- There is not an excessive amount of “advanced information” of evidence relating to your case – i.e.; not more than 50 pages
Where the Court at which you are due to appear is located within a 20 mile radius of the office at which the solicitor that you choose to instruct is based.
Consider the Advanced Information
Meet with you to discuss the hearing including take your instructions in respect of mitigation if you intend to enter a guilty plea; and advise you on the potential sentence you might receive; or take your instructions with regards any not guilty plea and the next steps in your case; and advise you as to court process leading to your trial and the next steps that will need to be undertaken.
Attend with you at Court at a single hearing to provide representation for you
You will also be liable to meet the cost of any disbursements incurred by that solicitor travelling to Court to represent you, and any other disbursements reasonably incurred, and agreed with you in advance, in preparing your case for that hearing.
Our costs of mileage to attend Court to represent you will be £0.45 per mile. Parking fees and/or the costs of public transport will also be charged as appropriate. For the most part the combined costs of mileage, parking and/or public transport costs will usually not exceed £30. These disbursements do generally attract VAT at the rate of 20%.
Costs of Counsel (Barrister)
The other most common type of disbursement that might be incurred for attendances at the Magistrates’ Court are the costs of Counsel. If we are not able to send one of our own specialist advocates to Court or if you specifically require representation by Counsel. The costs of Counsel attending a hearing vary considerably based on relevant seniority and experience. We will need to discuss the choice of advocate with you on a case-by-case basis. Counsel’s fees generally attract VAT at the rate of 20%.