What's new

New guidance is published today ahead of next week’s start of Crown Court Means Testing (CCMT) in the early adopter areas. 

The Criminal Legal Aid Manual provides information on how to apply for legal aid in criminal cases in the magistrates’ and Crown courts.  It comes into effect from 11 January in the magistrates’ courts that form the early adopter areas.

Printed copies will be sent to all firms with offices in these areas.  Copies can also be downloaded from the criminal legal aid eligibility pages.

New Version 6(EA) CDS 14 and 15 forms - mandatory for all applications for legal aid in the participating magistrates’ courts from 11 January - have already been sent to firms likely to be affected.

The forms can be downloaded from our forms pages. 

Further information

For further information, please visit:

• The early adopter Crown and magistrates' courts 
• Supporting information for the introduction of means testing  
• Proposed means testing in the Crown Court