Civil news: increases to emergency cost limit for legal aid work
Cost limit increases for emergency civil legal aid certificates take effect 13 September 2021 but certificates for investigative representations are excluded.

We are making increases to the cost limit on emergency civil legal aid certificates from 13 September 2021.
What sort of work is affected?
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full representation
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family help, higher
What is the increase?
Emergency civil legal aid certificates will be issued with a revised cost limit of 拢2,250.
We have deliberately set a figure which does not exceed substantive cost limits across different categories of law.
Certificates for investigative representations will continue to include a costs limit of 拢1,350.
How do emergency certificates work?
Delegated functions to grant emergency certificates are used when there is no time to apply to the LAA and wait for a funding decision.
Why is this happening now?
皇冠体育app new cost limit was suggested by providers in our process efficiency team (PET). This a small partnership group, which also includes LAA subject matter experts and representative bodies.
皇冠体育app increased limit should better reflect the work completed in emergency cases. It should also reduce the administrative burden on providers.
We are introducing this change manually while a permanent digital solution is worked on.
What if I need more than 拢2,250?
A higher cost limit can be agreed in exceptional circumstances.
You would need to include details of the cost limit requested alongside written justification within the 鈥榮tatement of case鈥� or 鈥榤erits report鈥�.
Authority for a cost limit to be reduced is provided for in CLA regulations. But this will only be done if the justification provided is not appropriate.
Challenges to cost limits
You can email our 鈥榗ivil application fixer service鈥� if you believe:
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a cost limit has been reduced in error
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an incorrect cost limit has been granted
Further information
鈥� to view authority for cost limits
[email protected] 鈥� to challenge cost limits