A Win for Legal Aid — A Step Forward for Appellate Justice

On 1st December 2025, the government announced an important increase in legal aid for Advice and Assistance work. After appeals work was not initially recognised in the consultation, advice and assistance work has been awarded a 10% fee uplift, following APPEAL’s direct intervention and joint representations with London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association (LCCSA) and Criminal Appeals Lawyers Association (CALA).

How We Got Here

Appeals work was missing from the original consultation. APPEAL challenged that.

Through direct engagement with policy leads — including a key meeting where APPEAL raised the omission with Minister of State for Courts and Legal Services, Sarah Sackman KC MP— and by coordinating joint submissions with LCCSA and CALA, we successfully made the case that appeals work must be funded properly to protect the integrity of the justice system.

Why This Matters

• Appeals work is now formally recognised in the consultation
• Solicitor fees for Advice and Assistance work will increase by 10%
• Marks a shift in government thinking: appeals are not an afterthought — they are central to justice
• Gives hope that more high street criminal defence firms will be able to take on appeal work

But Let’s Be Clear — This Is Only the Start

We welcome this recognition — but a 10% uplift still leaves appeals work substantially underfunded and unsustainable for many firms.

Advice and Assistance requires specialist expertise,  investigation, and client care — often for years — yet remain one of the most underfunded areas of criminal legal aid.

This announcement is a positive step on the right direction, but more finding is needed to meet the demand for specialist advice on criminal appeals.

“This marks the first time appeals have been treated as essential, not exceptional. It’s a step forward — but we will keep fighting until appeal work is properly funded and people who have been wrongly convicted can access the justice they deserve.” — Emma Torr, Co-Director, APPEAL

What APPEAL Will Do Next

APPEAL will continue to lead the fight for:

• Sustainable funding for criminal appeals
• Protection of specialist high street expertise
• Fair access to justice for those challenging wrongful convictions