Legal Aid and private funding

Police stations – If you are arrested, legal advice from a solicitor of your choice is free of charge at the police station. The police must telephone your solicitor to tell them you have been arrested and the fees for a solicitor to attend are covered by the governments’ Legal Aid scheme.

Magistrates’ Court – We discuss with our clients the most suitable funding arrangements for their case and if appropriate assist by completing applications for Legal Aid funding. The governments Legal Aid funding is means tested and looks at your income, family circumstances – for example the number and age of any children – and essential living costs like a mortgage or rent. The test decides if you can afford to pay all or some of your defence costs.

Clients who do not qualify for Legal Aid would need to privately fund their defence costs, for which we would be happy to provide a fixed fee

Motoring offences – Legal Aid is generally only available for more serious driving offences, such as dangerous driving or causing death by dangerous driving (subject to a financial means test).

Other driving offences are unlikely to qualify for Legal Aid and would need to be paid privately. Please contact us for a fixed fee. In successful cases we will apply for a ‘Defendant’s Costs Order’ which in most cases will result in a proportion, if not all, of your legal fees being recovered.

OUR PRIVATE FEES*
SUMMARY ONLY (MAGISTRATES COURT) MOTORING OFFENCES**

1ST APPEARANCE/SENTENCE SAME DAY AT HIGH WYCOMBE MAGISTRATES
COURT (‘HWMC’) £750

SENTENCING HEARING AT HWMC (IF CASE ADJOURNED FROM 1ST APPEARANCE)
£500

HALF DAY TRIAL AT HWMC (2 TO 3 HOURS TIME ESTIMATE) £800

FULL DAY TRIAL/SPECIAL REASONS HEARING/ NEWTON HEARING AT HWMC
£1500

EACH EXTRA DAY OF TRIAL AT HWMC £800
EXCEPTIONAL HARDSHIP HEARING AT HWMC £750
FIRST APPEARANCE/SENTENCE AT OXFORD MAGISTRATES COURT £700
OXFORD MAGISTRATES COURT SENTENCING HEARING
(IF CASE ADJOURNED FROM FIRST APPEARANCE) £600

*Legal Aid is only available for non-imprisonable motoring offences in exceptional circumstances. We can help you determine your eligibility for Legal Aid to fund your case and also assist you in any application for Legal Aid.
** All fees above are exclusive of VAT.
All fees are payable in full prior to the hearing
Fees in respect of all other legal services/courts/hearings are available upon request
Any disbursements required as a result of Experts or Medical
Reports, etc. will be payable in addition to the above fees

Crown Court – Applying for Legal Aid in the Crown Court can be a complicated process that our experienced solicitors and paralegals will assist you with. Once a case reaches Crown Court, Legal Aid is generally available for most cases if you qualify under the means test. If you have an above average income or any assets, you may have to pay contributions to the Court or pay privately for the cost of your representation.