You may have heard about legal aid cuts.  The good news is that legal aid is still available for all serious criminal charges and, if you pass the means test, for many less serious cases too, particularly if there is a real risk that you may go to prison if convicted. 

Help at the police station

• Help at the police station is still covered by legal aid.  You pay nothing, and the government pays us for our work

Representation at court

• If you are charged with an offence your case will start - and usually finish - in the magistrates' court.  If the court agrees that you need a lawyer to represent you and you pass the means test, you may get legal aid to pay for our services.  If not, you can pay us privately.  We will always discuss the cost of your case at the start, and you may find our fees more reasonable than you expected.  If your defence is successful there is a good chance that the Court will order payment of all or part of our fees from public funds.

The Crown Court and beyond

• If you are charged with a more serious offence you may be tried in the Crown Court.  Legal aid in the Crown Court is still free of charge, though a means test may be introduced within the next year or two.  If you are convicted the Crown Court may order you to pay a contribution if you seem able to afford one, but this does not often happen.