Very High Cost Case Fee Scheme - Terms of Appointment
Annex A - Fee selection criteria
Criteria for setting hourly rates in fraud cases
Block A
- The case is likely to give rise to national publicity and widespread public concern
- The case requires highly specialised knowledge
- The case involves a significant international dimension
- The case requires legal, accountancy and investigative skills to be brought together
Block B
The value of the fraud exceeds:
- £10m
- £2m
The volume of prosecution documentation (excluding unused material) exceeds:
- 30,000 pages
- 10,000 pages
The length of the trial is estimated at:
- Over 20 weeks
Categorisation of cases
Category 1: 4 criteria from Block A, and 3 'a's from Block B
Category 2: 2 criteria from Block A and at least 1 'a' or 'b' from Block B
Category 3: All other fraud VHCCs
Criteria for setting hourly rates in non-fraud cases
Block A
- Must be a class 1 or 2 offence or be a serious drug case
- The maximum sentence for the offence is imprisonment for life or over 30 years
- The case is likely to attract national interest
- If the offence is of a violent or sexual nature, there are multiple victims or if a sole victim, there is something significant about the crime. If the case involves drugs, their total value is estimated to exceed £10m
Block B
The volume of prosecution documentation (excluding unused material) exceeds:
- 10,000 pages
- 5,000 pages
Categorisation of cases
Category 1: Terrorism Cases
Category 2: 4 criteria from Block A and (a) from Block B
Category 3: All other VHCCs
Hourly rates for preparation
Counsel
QC
- Category 1 - 180
- Category 2 - 140
- Category 3 - 110
Leading junior
- Category 1 - 140
- Category 2 - 110
- Category 3 - 90
Led junior
- Category 1 - 100
- Category 2 - 80
- Category 3 - 70
Junior alone
- Category 1 - 110
- Category 2 - 90
- Category 3 - 80
Second led junior*
- Category 1 - 90
- Category 2 - 70
- Category 3 - 60
Second led junior
- Category 1 - 70
- Category 2 - 55
- Category 3 - 50
Solicitor Advocate
Ldg level A
- Category 1 - 180
- Category 2 - 140
- Category 3 - 110
Led level A
- Category 1 - 140
- Category 2 - 110
- Category 3 - 90
Ldg level B
- Category 1 - 140
- Category 2 - 110
- Category 3 - 90
Led level B
- Category 1 - 115
- Category 2 - 95
- Category 3 - 75
Level A alone
- Category 1 - 145
- Category 2 - 120
- Category 3 - 100
Level B alone
- Category 1 - 125
- Category 2 - 105
- Category 3 - 85
2nd Advocate
- Category 1 - 70
- Category 2 - 55
- Category 3 - 50
Daily rates for advocacy
QC
- Category 1 - 600
- Category 2 - 600
- Category 3 - 600
Leading junior
- Category 1 - 450
- Category 2 - 450
- Category 3 - 450
Led junior
- Category 1 - 300
- Category 2 - 300
- Category 3 - 300
Junior alone
- Category 1 - 330
- Category 2 - 330
- Category 3 - 330
Second led junior*
- Category 1 - 200
- Category 2 - 200
- Category 3 - 200
Second led junior
- Category 1 - 150
- Category 2 - 150
- Category 3 - 150
Noter
- Category 1 - 125
- Category 2 - 125
- Category 3 - 125
* In Very High Cost Fraud Cases, the hourly and refresher rate paid to a second led junior can be uplifted if their specific role and responsibility in the case is over and above that expected from a second led junior in another fraud case/or defence second led junior in the same case.
Other hearings
- QC - 140
- Leading junior - 100
- Led junior - 70
- Junior alone - 80
- Second led junior - 40
- Noter - 35
Back to Very High Cost Case Fee Scheme - Terms of Appointment