Specialist Legal Aid Billing — England & Wales
Expert Crown Court Billing That Maximises Your Legal Aid Recovery
We handle every aspect of Crown Court billing for criminal defence solicitors — from LGFS and AGFS claims to PPE calculations, special preparation, and LAA redeterminations. Stop leaving fees on the table.
Additional Legal Aid Funding Available
Claim Success Rate
Firms Supported
Complete Crown Court Billing & Legal Aid Claims Management
From initial fee calculation to LAA redeterminations, we handle every stage of your Crown Court billing so you can focus on your clients.
LGFS Crown Court Billing
Expert Litigator Graduated Fee Scheme billing covering case classification, PPE assessment, trial length, witness counts and correct offence categorisation to maximise your graduated fee.
AGFS Advocate Fee Claims
Accurate Advocates’ Graduated Fee Scheme submissions for barristers and solicitor-advocates. We ensure correct brief fees, daily refreshers, and special preparation are properly claimed.
PPE Calculation & Verification
Meticulous Pages of Prosecution Evidence counting. We identify all qualifying documents — witness statements, transcripts, forensic reports — to ensure you reach the correct PPE band and fee level.
Special Preparation Claims
We build robust special preparation claims for unusually burdensome cases — high-volume PPE, complex electronic evidence and technical complexity — with detailed work logs to withstand LAA scrutiny.
LAA Redeterminations & Appeals
When the LAA reduces or rejects a claim, we prepare comprehensive redetermination requests and appeal submissions, drawing on detailed case law and regulatory guidance to recover your fees.
VHCC Very High Cost Cases
Specialist billing support for Very High Cost Cases including individual case contract management, hourly rate claims, and liaison with the LAA’s Complex Crime Unit in Nottingham and Liverpool.
Total CLAIR fee uplift since the Independent Review
New harmonised police station attendance fee (ex VAT)
Rise in Crown Court legal aid orders in 2024
LAA target for processing advocate bill claims
Understanding LGFS & AGFS Crown Court Billing
The Legal Aid Agency operates two distinct graduated fee schemes for Crown Court cases. Knowing the rules — and their exceptions — is critical to recovering every pound your firm is entitled to.
For Solicitors
Litigator Graduated Fee Scheme (LGFS)
The LGFS governs payment for solicitors who prepare and conduct Crown Court cases under legal aid. Rather than billing by the hour, fees are fixed and graduated according to several key factors. Accurate classification directly determines your fee level.
- Case type and offence category
- Pages of Prosecution Evidence (PPE)
- Trial length and number of defendants
- Guilty plea, cracked trial, or full trial outcome
- Special preparation for exceptional work
- Consideration of unused material (post-September 2020 orders)
For Advocates
Advocates’ Graduated Fee Scheme (AGFS)
The AGFS covers barristers and solicitor-advocates representing defendants in Crown Court proceedings. Claims are submitted to the LAA’s Advocates Team based in Nottingham, which targets a 20 working day processing time for all AGFS claims.
- Offence type and case category
- Number of pages of prosecution evidence
- Brief fee, daily refreshers and returns
- Fixed fees for appeals and hearings
- Special preparation for complex cases
- Advocate Supplier Number required for all AGFS claims
The Specialists Criminal Defence Firms Trust
Crown Court billing is complex, regulated, and high-stakes. An incorrect PPE count, wrong offence category, or missed special preparation claim can cost your firm thousands. Our dedicated billing team knows the Criminal Legal Aid (Remuneration) Regulations 2013 inside out.
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Dedicated Crown Court billing specialists with 15+ years LAA experience -
Full LGFS and AGFS claim preparation and submission via CCD/CCMS -
Meticulous PPE assessment and documentary verification -
Expert redetermination and appeal support when LAA disputes arise -
Regular compliance updates following LAA regulatory changes -
Transparent fee structure — you only pay when we recover fees for you
Our Crown Court Billing Process
We review your file, verify representation order dates, and audit all prosecution documents for PPE eligibility.
We classify the case under LGFS or AGFS, apply the correct offence category, and calculate all applicable graduated fees.
We identify and document any exceptional work qualifying for special preparation claims or disbursements.
We submit your completed claim to the LAA’s Crown Court Defence (CCD) system and track progress to payment.
If the LAA disputes or reduces your claim, we prepare a detailed redetermination request to recover the full fee.
Trusted by Criminal Defence Solicitors Across England & Wales
Our LGFS recovery increased by 23% in the first three months. The PPE audit alone uncovered thousands in underclaimed fees we didn’t even know we were entitled to.
The LAA had rejected our special preparation claim on a complex fraud case. Crown Court Billing prepared a redetermination that recovered over £14,000 in fees within six weeks.
We had no dedicated billing resource for AGFS claims. Within two months of working with Crown Court Billing, our advocate fee submissions were error-free and submitted 40% faster.
Crown Court Billing Questions Answered
Everything criminal defence solicitors need to know about LGFS, AGFS, PPE and legal aid billing in the Crown Court.
Ready to Maximise Your Crown Court Billing Recovery?
Request a free, no-obligation review of your current billing. Our Crown Court billing specialists will identify any underclaimed fees and outline exactly how we can help your firm recover more from every legal aid case.