Termination of criminal legal aid by us

We have wide powers to terminate criminal legal aid, if we are satisfied that the client has:

• Wilfully failed to comply with the provisions of the criminal regulations
• Knowingly made a false statement or false representation
• Conducted themselves in an unreasonable way
• Wilfully or deliberately given false information for the purpose of misleading us in considering their financial circumstances
• Failed to comply with any condition to which criminal legal aid has been made available

We have the right to recover from the client the amount paid out by us in respect of the fees and outlays of the solicitor and counsel acting in the case [regulation 18(2) of the Criminal Legal Aid Regulations 1996].

If the amount paid to you from the Fund is less than the amount due, you have the right to recover the difference from the client.

We may also direct that the client should receive no further criminal legal aid in connection with the proceedings under regulation 18(2)(c) of the Criminal Legal Aid Regulations 1996.

We may initiate termination if:

• We have direct knowledge of a client’s conduct
• We receive information from a court as to the client’s conduct