GovWire

Starting on 1 September 2015 the High Cost Crime Team will be responsible for assessing all special preparation claims under the:

• Litigators Graduated Fee Scheme (LGFS)
• Advocates Graduated Fee Scheme (AGFS)

A mailbox address is available for you to communicate with us about your special preparation claims:

specialpreparation@legalaid.gsi.gov.uk

What are special preparation claims?

Special preparation claims are for work which falls outside the graduated fee schemes. In the case of litigators this would mean pages of prosecution evidence (PPE) served in excess of the 10,000 page graduated fee cap and electronic evidence.

For advocates this would also mean PPE served in excess of the 10,000 page cap and electronic evidence. It would also mean where additional work has arisen from very unusual or novel legal/factual issues.

What does this change mean for my submissions?

You should continue to make LGFS and AGFS submissions in the usual way see below.

But you should be aware that the High Cost Crime Team may use the special preparation mailbox if we do not have all the information or documents we need to process your claim. This should reduce the number of claims that are rejected.

Address for LGFS and AGFS claims

You should continue to send your work by post to:

LGFS or AGFS Team (please specify)

DX 10035Nottingham 1

What are the processing targets?

• 90% of claims within 20 working days for basic fee assessment submitted by post
• 15 working days from receipt by the HCC team for initial special preparation claim under the LGFS
• 20 working days from receipt by the HCC team for initial special preparation claim under the AGFS

Further information

specialpreparation@legalaid.gsi.gov.uk

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