Family remuneration rates change 2 April 2007

The Legal Aid in Family Proceedings (Remuneration) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (SI 2007/742) come into force on 2 April 2007, for private work carried out on or after that date, in advance of the introduction of the Family Help private scheme in October 2007. The amended rates apply to prescribed family proceedings and introduce equalized rates for county court and family proceedings courts. The amended rates do not apply to care proceedings (as defined in the Legal Aid in Family Proceedings (Remuneration) Regulations 1991) where harmonised rates are already applied. The amended rates are set out below. For further information see April and May [2007] Fam Law. For the full SI see Legislation, below.

Prescribed family proceedings: county court and magistrates' court proceedings

Writing routine letters £6 per item
Receiving routine letters £3 per item
Routine telephone calls £6 per item
All other preparation work £61 per hour (South Eastern Circuit £66 per hour)
Travelling and waiting £31 per hour (South Eastern Circuit £32 per hour)
Attending with counsel at the trial, hearing or other appointment £36 per hour
Attending without counsel at the trial, hearing or other appointment £63 per hour (South Eastern Circuit £66 per hour)
Preparing the bill (where allowable) and completing the detailed assessment £35.70 - £56.95
Preparing for and attending the hearing of the detailed assessment Discretionary
Appeal to costs judge, district judge or judge Discretionary