Applying for funding beyond the standard cost limit: factors to be addressed

Each category of civil legal aid has a standard limit.

However, it is open to you to ask for a higher level of expenditure than the standard limit. You can do this if you are initially aware that it likely that the cost of the case will be beyond the standard limit.

You should identify the factors and issues that are likely to increase the cost of the case.

Factors could include:

  • experts likely to be necessary
  • need to instruct counsel
  • your client has special needs that will require additional assistance
  • you have been granted exceptional case status or an additional fee
  • work has already been done under special urgency which would take up most of the standard cost limit.
Case cost limits: payments from the Fund and judicial expenses cases
Seeking a review of the case cost limit applied: procedure and information to provide

In this section

Cost limits

Cost limitations on grants of civil legal aid: how the limit is calculated and what is covered

Find out more about cost limitations on grants of civil legal aid, how the limit is calculated and what is covered.

Cost limits

The importance of monitoring your case costs: considering sufficient expenditure

Learn about why you need to ensure you have sufficient expenditure in place for all the work you need to undertake.

Cost limits

Case cost limits: payments from the Fund and judicial expenses cases

Find out why the cost limit is not relevant on your case if you obtain judicial expenses.

Cost limits

Seeking a review of the case cost limit applied: procedure and information to provide

Find out the details you need to submit if you are seeking a review of the cost limit of your case.

Cost limits

Applying for an increase beyond the standard cost limit: procedure and information to provide

Learn about the information you need to include in your AMEND application when applying for an increase in your case cost limit.

Cost limits

Increases in long running cases or with multiple legally-aided parties: our monitoring role

Learn about when we will monitor long running cases and what form this will take.

Cost limits

Situations in which retrospective authority for a case cost increase may be granted

Find out when retrospective sanction will be considered and what we consider a good reason for not seeking our prior approval for a case cost increase.

Cost limits

TOOL: standard cost limit of your case

Use our case costs limit tool to view relevant information about your civil legal aid work.