Statutory Instrument 2026/106 - the Criminal Legal Aid (Remuneration) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 - was made on 5 February, laid on 6 February, and comes into force on 3 March 2026. It amends the Criminal Legal Aid (Remuneration) Regulations 2013 and applies in England and Wales.
The Regulations apply to services provided following a “relevant determination”. That means determinations on applications under sections 13, 15 or 16 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 made on or after 3 March 2026. In practice, new grants from that date will use the updated fee tables; existing grants remain on the previous framework.
Schedule 1 introduces a fixed 65:75:100 ratio between guilty plea, cracked trial and trial basic fees across all offence types in the Litigators’ Graduated Fee Scheme. The Government signalled this change in its 1 December 2025 consultation response as part of the crime higher package to improve clarity and predictability for providers. (gov.uk)
Trial basic fees for the lowest‑paying LGFS offence types are increased: offence type E by 35 per cent and offence types F to I by 33 per cent. Because the ratio is fixed, these uplifts flow through to cracked trials and guilty pleas for those classes, raising remuneration across outcomes in Crown Court litigation. (gov.uk)
To implement these changes, the instrument replaces the Schedule 2 tables. For matters at or below the pages‑of‑prosecution‑evidence cut‑off, new basic‑fee tables apply for cracked trials, guilty pleas and trials. Where the cut‑off is exceeded, the final‑fee tables for trials, cracked trials and guilty pleas are also substituted. The fixed‑fee table following paragraph 19 is replaced to align the structure.
Appeals remuneration is adjusted in both Schedule 2 and Schedule 4. The instrument substitutes the table for representation on an appeal by way of case stated and revises the limits for assigned counsel in proceedings prescribed as criminal under section 14(h) of LASPO 2012. The Government’s response indicated a 10 per cent uplift to appeals work within the wider package. (consult.justice.gov.uk)
This instrument represents the second stage of the solicitor fee reforms. The first stage took effect in December 2025 under SI 2025/1251 for police station, magistrates’ courts and prison law work, alongside some appeals; the March 2026 measures complete the crime higher elements, including LGFS and the remaining appeals. (statutoryinstruments.parliament.uk)
For providers, the operative trigger is the determination date, not the hearing or service date. Certificates issued on or after 3 March 2026 should be costed at the new rates; certificates issued earlier continue under the pre‑existing scales. Firms should retain clear evidence of determination dates to support billing and audit requirements.
In financial terms, the Ministry of Justice estimates the solicitor‑fee package at around £92 million per year once fully implemented, taking the overall uplift for solicitors since the Criminal Legal Aid Independent Review to about 24 per cent. The LGFS and appeals changes in this instrument form part of that investment. (consult.justice.gov.uk)
Operational delivery is tied to Legal Aid Agency systems and guidance. The consultation outcome envisaged a second statutory instrument once digital changes were available; firms should watch for updated LAA guidance and ensure case‑management and billing calculators reflect the new tables by 3 March. (consult.justice.gov.uk)