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Contractual Terms for civil (non-family) legal aid work

Purpose: To advise barristers on contractual terms for civil (non-family) legal aid work
Scope of application: All practising barristers
Issued by: The Remuneration Committee
First reviewed: 01/01/2014
Last reviewed: 01/01/2014
Status and effect: Please see the notice at end of this document. This is not "guidance" for the purposes of the BSB Handbook I6.4.

A barrister undertaking civil (non-family) legal aid work, even in high cost cases, will not normally have a contractual right – or any other legal right – to payment from the Legal Aid Agency or from the solicitor or other provider of the brief/instructions. The Bar Council has provided template contractual terms which barristers may like to use and invite the solicitor/provider to agree – so as to at least ensure a legal right to payment in civil legal aid cases.

For the Standard Contractual Terms and more information, please click here.


Download: Contractual Terms for Civil (Non-Family) Legal Aid Work:

Download ( PDF )


Important Notice

This document has been prepared by the Bar Council to assist barristers on matters of professional conduct and ethics. It is not “guidance” for the purposes of the BSB Handbook I6.4, and neither the BSB nor a disciplinary tribunal nor the Legal Ombudsman is bound by any views or advice expressed in it. It does not comprise – and cannot be relied on as giving – legal advice. It has been prepared in good faith, but neither the Bar Council nor any of the individuals responsible for or involved in its preparation accept any responsibility or liability for anything done in reliance on it. For fuller information as to the status and effect of this document, please see here.

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