Standard Crime Contract 2022
Contract documents for providers of criminal legal aid services, 2022
Applies to England and Wales
Documents
Details
The 2022 standard crime contract runs from 1 October 2022 to 30 September 2025 (see above document - Headline Intentions on Extending the 2022 standard crime contract - May 2023). It governs the provision of criminal legal aid services and consists of 4 documents:
- standard terms
- specification
- schedule
- contract for signature.
Standard terms
The standard terms govern the commercial relationship between the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) and legal aid providers.
The standard terms for the 2022 standard crime contract have been amended as follows:
Version 2 - the standard terms were amended effective from 27 November 2024 for the Domestic Abuse Protection Notice (DAPN) and Domestic Abuse Protection Order (DAPO) pilot.
Full details of the amendments made to the standard terms are listed in the above document named tables of amendments to 2022 standard crime contract.
Specification
The specification sets out the rules for carrying out publicly funded criminal defence work in England and Wales. The rates for this work can be found in legal aid legislation.
The specification for the 2022 standard crime contract has been amended as follows:
Version 6 – the specification will be amended effective from 6 December 2024 to support the new Youth Court standard fees and travel costs on specified police station fixed fees set out in the Government’s response to the crime lower consultation. These changes will apply to cases starting on or after 6 December 2024 and are set out in the document above named specification draft version 6 (to be effective from 6 December 2024).
Version 5 - the specification was amended effective from 27 November 2024 for the Domestic Abuse Protection Notice (DAPN) and Domestic Abuse Protection Order (DAPO) pilot.
Version 4 – the specification was amended effective from 2 April 2024 for the set aside process in Parole Board cases and to allow pre-signature work in disciplinary hearings that takes place via video link.
Version 3 – the specification was amended effective from 3 August 2023 in relation to supervisor requirements and office hours, and for the removal of the financial eligibility test for children on advice and assistance and advocacy assistance cases started on or after 3 August 2023.
Version 2 – the specification was amended effective from 1 July 2023 in relation to the billing of police station claims in pre-charge bail cases.
Version 1 – the original version of the specification effective from 1 October 2022.
Full details of the amendments made to the specification are listed in the above document named tables of amendments to 2022 standard crime contract.
Sample schedule
This sets out provisions specific to individual providers. Use the sample schedule for illustration as schedules vary between providers.
Sample contract for signature
The contract for signature gives effect to the 2022 standard crime contract as a whole. Use the sample contract for signature for illustration as they vary between providers.
Associated contract documents
Category definitions
This sets out the legal definitions of each category of law covered by the 2022 standard crime contract.
Supervisor declaration forms and guidance
These documents set out the requirements that supervisors must satisfy.
Duty solicitor guidance
This sets out how the LAA interprets the duty solicitor requirements, including the calendar monthly 50 hours’ requirement.
Welcome pack
This provides an overview of the 2022 standard crime contract.
Police station representatives register
This is a list of police station representatives authorised to attend a police station under police station advice and assistance.
Police station register arrangements
These arrangements set out the rules for the police station representatives register.
Further documents
- Specialist Quality Mark standard and guidance
- indemnities and guarantee forms
- data security requirements and guidance
- equality and diversity guidance
- criminal bills assessment manual
- LAA payment guidance
- independent peer review guidance
- Lord Chancellor’s guidance - under section 4 of LASPO
- criminal legal aid regulations
- crime contract 2022 tender
Updates to this page
Published 19 October 2021Last updated 3 September 2024 + show all updates
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Police station representatives register updated
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updated draft specification v2
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First published.