12/09/2014 - UK Legal Aid Agency Publishes Updates in Guidance For Expert Witnesses


Fees:

1. maximum rates for different types of expert witness
2. how to apply for prior authority, including benchmarks
for working unusual hours
3. expert activity time guidelines
4. expert witness standards in family matters
5. arrangements for specific expert types, including independent social workers, experts in risk
assessment, drug and alcohol testing and DNA testing

Download the Government fee guide in full

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/351193/expert-witnesses-fees-guidance.pdf

Forensic science laboratory charges in criminal matters

The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) has published guidance on
the funding of forensic science laboratory charges in criminal matters.

The guidance sets out that appropriate charges levied
upon the defence by prosecution forensic science
laboratories may be payable by the LAA where the LAA
considers the charge to be reasonable and has granted prior authority to incur the cost.

The guidance provides a list of activities that must not be
claimed from the LAA. It also explains that payment for
such services will be made in line with the Criminal Legal
Aid (Remuneration)(Amendment) Regulations 2013.

Download full guide
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/a
ttachment_data/file/346406/forensic-expert-lab-charges-
guidance.pdf

Clinical negligence experts:

Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has confirmed that these rates
will generally be acceptable as a starting point when an
expert provides specialised and unusual evidence in a
cerebral palsy case, and their evidence is key to the
client s case:
Expert Rate
Neurologist 200 per hour
Neonatologist 180 per hour
Neuroradiologist 180 per hour

Down load full guide here
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/a
ttachment_data/file/340798/LAA-guidance-on-
remuneration-clinical-negligence-experts.pdf

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/a ttachment_data/file/340798/LAA-guidance-on- remuneration-clinical-negligence-experts.pdf

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/a ttachment_data/file/340798/LAA-guidance-on- remuneration-clinical-negligence-experts.pdf