Prices
Legally Aided Cases
If you are arrested or invited to a police interview under caution, you are eligible for free independent legal advice at your police interview.
Interviews may be conducted by the police, National Crime Agency, Customs and Excise, and any other persons other than police officers “who are charged with the duty of investigating offences or charging offenders” under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.
The free representation at interview applies irrespective of your financial position. You have the right to choose your own solicitor or if you do not have one a duty solicitor can be contacted to advise you. A custody sergeant at the police station will ask you whether you have a solicitor or would like for the duty solicitor to be contacted. If you indicate that you wish to be represented by Abraham White Law, the custody sergeant will call us on your behalf and we will be able to speak to you. This call and the cost of your representation at the police station are free of charge.
If you are charged or receive a postal requisition (summons) you may be eligible for legal aid to help pay for the costs of your legal representation at court.
In order to qualify for legal aid, there are two tests that must both be passed.
Additional costs
Please note that when your case appears before a court, should you be convicted you may also have to pay prosecution costs, whether you have the benefit of legal aid or are paying privately.
These costs are applied upon an application by the prosecution and as your solicitors we would be able to oppose any such application. The question of whether to order court costs or not is decided by the judge hearing your case and will be dependent on your overall circumstances.
The Court can order a defendant to pay such costs as it thinks “just and reasonable”. This will apply where the Court believes that a Defendant has the means to pay. Costs are not ordered in every case and these figures below are illustrative and apply to adults.
Magistrates’ Court Prosecution Costs
| Lower Amount | Average | Higher Amount | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proof in Absence | £85 | £85 | £85 |
| Enter Guilty Plea | – | £85 | £100 |
| Summary Guilty Plea | £105 | £135 | £160 |
| Summary Trial | £620 | £775 | £930 |
| Either-way Guilty Plea | £145 | £185 | £220 |
| Either-way Trial | £770 | £965 | £1,150 |
In addition, courts also have the power to apply a surcharge. For adults receiving a conditional discharge £22, £95 for a community order, for cases in which you receive a fine the victim surcharge will be calculated at 10% of the total fine (with a minimum of £34 and maximum of £190), for custodial sentences of six months or less £128 and for custodial sentences of over six months £156. In the youth court, the maximum victim surcharge is £34.
Magistrates’ Court Surcharge (offences committed after 14.04.2020)
| Lower Amount | Average | Higher Amount | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conditional Discharge | £22 | £22 | £22 |
| Fine | 10% of fine value (minimum £34) | 10% of fine value (maximum £190) | |
| Community Sentence | £95 | £95 | £95 |
| Suspended Sentence Order | £128 (≤6 months) | £156 (>6 months) | |
| Immediate Custody | £128 (≤6 months) | £156 (>6 months) |
Crown Court Cases
If your case is moved to the crown court, the interests of justice test will automatically be met and you will automatically qualify for legal aid. However, the Legal Aid Agency will determine how much, if any, contribution you will have to make towards the costs of your legal defence. If you are ordered to make contributions this will be for a maximum period of 6 months and should you be acquitted, you may be able to claim back your contributions.
In some cases, you may find that it is more cost effective to pay privately for your representation rather than make the contributions calculated by the Legal Aid Agency. If this applies to you, or if you are either refused legal aid or are able to afford to pay for your representation privately, then you should consider paying privately for your representation.
As with magistrates court matters, should you be convicted you may be ordered to pay court costs. Again, the decision on whether to order court costs is decided by the crown court judge hearing your case and will be dependent on the overall circumstances. Costs are not ordered in every case and these figures are included for the sake of completeness and transparency. The court must be satisfied that it is just and reasonable to order those costs and that you have the means to pay it.
Crown Court Prosecution Costs
| Lower Amount | Average | Higher Amount | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Committal for Sentence | £340 | £425 | £510 |
| Appeal Against Sentence | £260 | £330 | £395 |
| Appeal Against Conviction | £415 | £520 | £620 |
| Early Guilty Plea (entered at Magistrates’ Court) |
£535 | £670 | £800 |
| Committal for Trial (Plea) | £1,200 | £1,500 | £1,800 |
| Committal for Trial (Trial) | £2,800 | £3,500 | £4,200 |
Crown Court Surcharge (offences committed after 14.04.2020)
| Lower Amount | Average | Higher Amount | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conditional Discharge | £22 | £22 | £22 |
| Fine | 10% of fine value (minimum £34) | 10% of fine value (maximum £190) | |
| Community Sentence | £95 | £95 | £95 |
| Suspended Sentence Order (6 months or less) |
£128 | £128 | £128 |
| Suspended Sentence Order (over 6 months) |
£156 | £156 | £156 |
| Immediate Custodial Sentence (6 months or less) |
£128 | £128 | £128 |
| Immediate Custodial Sentence (over 6 months and up to 2 years) |
£156 | £156 | £156 |
| Immediate Custodial Sentence (over 2 years to life) |
£190 | £190 | £190 |
Prices
Private Cases
The firm’s private fees are charged at competitive rates and are available on request.
If you wish to instruct Abraham White Law on a private basis, then once the fee is agreed, we will do everything that you reasonably require, and our professional rules allow. In private cases, we ensure the attendance of the most senior lawyer available to attend the police station and court hearings with you (including virtual attendances). The fees for such work can be agreed in advance and we can discuss further if clarification is required. You are under no obligation to accept a private service if you qualify for legal aid. We always work tirelessly for all our clients.
If you fund your defence privately and are found not guilty, we can apply to reclaim some or all of your defence costs from central funds, however, you must have been refused legal aid in order to be eligible to receive this reimbursement.
Contact Abraham White Law today to discuss how we may be able to assist you.
Transferring Legal Aid
When facing criminal proceedings that can have far reaching consequences for your life and future, it’s important that you are comfortable with and have confidence in your legal representation.
If you are currently represented through legal aid but are unhappy with your current legal representation and would like to be represented by another solicitor, you can seek a transfer of your legal aid. It is advisable to consider this as early as possible once it is clear that an issue has arisen. You will only be allowed to transfer your legal aid to a new solicitor under exceptional circumstances, such as, for example:
- If your relationship with your current team has broken down;
- If you have lost confidence in your current team’s ability to properly advise and represent you;
- If your current team must withdraw due to a conflict of interests;
- If there is some other “substantial compelling reason” for changing your legal team.
If the application to transfer is not granted, you will have to remain with your current legal team, self represent or else pay privately. This means if you wish to change legal team, you may be forced to cover the cost of your new legal representative yourself. In most instances, it is advisable to remain with your current legal representatives unless there is a very good reason for seeking to transfer.