Magistrates' court standard fees
Legal aid payment rates for representation in the magistrates' court under the Standard Fee scheme. Source: SI 2013/435 Schedule 4, paragraph 5, as amended (including SI 2025/1251 for amounts). Verify against current LAA guidance before claiming.
How the standard fee scheme works
Each case falls into a category (1A, 1B, or 2) and either a designated or undesignated court area. For each combination there is a lower standard fee, a higher standard fee, and matching fee limits.
- Record all time at the hourly rates in the table below.
- Calculate total profit costs from that time recording.
- Compare total costs to the fee limits for your category and area:
- At or below the lower limit → claim the lower standard fee.
- Above the lower limit but at or below the higher limit → claim the higher standard fee.
- Above the higher limit → you may escape the standard fee and claim assessed profit costs (subject to the rules).
Hourly rates for time recording
These rates apply in all areas for recording time and for non-standard fee cases.
| Work type | Rate (all areas) |
|---|---|
| Routine letters and telephone calls | £4.50 per item |
| Preparation | £57.37 per hour |
| Advocacy (including bail and applications) | £71.96 per hour |
| Attendance where counsel assigned (incl. conferences at court) | £39.25 per hour |
| Travelling and waiting | Only where undesignated area fees apply — £30.36 per hour |
Source: Schedule 4, paragraph 5(1), table.
Standard fees — designated areas
| Category | Lower fee | Lower limit | Higher fee | Higher limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1A | £314.62 | £344.51 | £596.84 | £596.89 |
| 1B | £255.78 | £344.51 | £551.09 | £596.89 |
| 2 | £436.85 | £591.82 | £915.04 | £986.25 |
Standard fees — undesignated areas
| Category | Lower fee | Lower limit | Higher fee | Higher limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1A | £246.27 | £344.51 | £521.57 | £596.89 |
| 1B | £200.21 | £344.51 | £481.59 | £596.89 |
| 2 | £353.51 | £591.82 | £810.79 | £986.25 |
Additional fee (paragraph 5(6)): for cases outside the standard fee payment scheme, an additional fee of £229.47 may be claimable where the rules allow.
Category definitions (summary)
Which category applies depends on the nature of the proceedings (paragraph 5(3)). This is a summary only — always read the regulations and current LAA guidance.
Category 1A
Either-way non-trial work — e.g. guilty pleas, offers of no evidence, bind overs, and related patterns listed in the rules.
Category 1B
Summary non-trial work — e.g. summary-only guilty pleas, uncontested breaches, discontinued summary matters, and similar.
Category 2
Contested hearings and trials — higher fee band reflects additional preparation and advocacy.
Designated vs undesignated areas
Designated areas generally reflect higher operating-cost courts under the Standard Crime Contract. Undesignated areas use lower standard fee figures but may allow travel and waiting at £30.36/hour where the rules permit. Confirm classification in your contract documentation or with your contract manager.
Escaping the standard fee
If assessed profit costs exceed the higher standard fee limit for your category, you may escape the standard fee and claim assessed costs at the hourly rates — subject to evidence and LAA rules.
- Categories 1A and 1B: higher limit £596.89
- Category 2: higher limit £986.25
Maintain time records on every file — not only when you expect to escape.
Youth court, VAT, disbursements
- Youth court has its own fee scheme under Schedule 4 — see the regulations for detail.
- Figures are usually exclusive of VAT where VAT applies.
- Reasonable disbursements are claimed separately; prior authority may be needed.
Official resources
- SI 2013/435 — primary regulations
- SI 2025/1251 — recent fee updates
Related on this site
Disclaimer: information only — not legal or financial advice. Verify all figures before billing.