CLS news

Today, the Ministry of Justice and Legal Services Commission announced the way forward on interim changes to Family Graduated Fees following last year’s consultation, Reforming the Legal Aid Family Barrister Fee Scheme (18 June – 10 September 2008). 

The way forward was announced through a Written Ministerial Statement (WMS) and, more generally, through a press release.  

Formal consultation response

The formal response, containing details of the changes, will be published on the Ministry of Justice’s website on 23 February. The changes we are taking forward will safeguard help to the most vulnerable families and children, and combat rises in the family legal aid bill.

What is the Family Graduated Fee scheme?

The Family Graduated Fee scheme governs payments to barristers for family legal aid work.

• Over the last five years, legal aid payments to family barristers under the scheme have increased by more than 30% - from £74 million to almost £100 million annually
• They now form over 10% of the entire civil legal aid budget 
• However, in the same period, the number of family law cases has increased by just 11%.

These changes will be implemented in June 2009 and are part of the commission’s ongoing civil reform programme and wider Government reforms to the family justice system.

Further information

For further information, please contact the family policy team.