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Legal Aid

Legal aid is a government-funded service designed to ensure access to justice for individuals who may not have the financial means to afford legal representation or advice. It helps cover costs related to legal proceedings, including solicitor fees, court costs, and in some cases, expert witness reports. In the context of expert witness reports, legal aid may be used to fund the engagement of a qualified expert whose opinion is essential to the case, particularly in complex matters such as medical negligence, criminal trials, or family law disputes. The expert’s role is to provide an impartial, evidence-based report that assists the court in understanding technical issues, and when funded by legal aid, this ensures both parties—regardless of financial status—can access credible expert testimony.

 

Below, you will find the UK Legal Aid Rates table, which outlines the costs associated with expert witness services covered under the Legal Aid scheme in England.

Expert
London Hourly Rate
Non-London Hourly Rate
A&E consultant
124.2
115.92
Accident reconstruction
62.56
82.8
Accountant
73.6
73.6
Accountant (general staff)
46
46
Accountant (manager)
99.36
99.36
Accountant (partner)
132.48
132.48
Anaesthetist
82.8
124.2
Architect
82.8
91.08
Back calculations
173.88 fixed fee
165.50 fixed fee
Benefit expert
83
83
Cardiologist
83
132
Child psychiatrist
83
124
Child psychologist
83
116
Computer expert
83
83
Consultant engineer
63
83
DNA (testing of sample)
289.80 per test
289.80 per test
DNA preparation of report
83
83
Dentist
83
108
Disability consultant
63
63
Doctor (GP)
83
91
Drug expert
83
83
ENT surgeon
83
116
Employment consultant
63
63
Enquiry agent
21
29
Facial Mapping
83
124
Fingerprint expert
43
83
Firearm expert
83
83
Forensic scientist
83
104
GP (records report)
82.80 fixed fee
57.96 fixed fee
General surgeon
83
124
Geneticist
83
99
Gynaecologist
83
124
Haematologist
83
112
Medical Report
83
91
Medical microbiologist
83
124
Meteorologist
165.60 fixed fee
116
Midwife
83
83
Neonatologist
83
124
Neurologist
83
141
Neuropsychiatrist
83
145
Neuroradiologist
83
157
Neurosurgeon
83
157
Nursing expert
75
75
Obstetrician
83
124
Occupational therapist
63
63
Oncologist
83
129
Orthopaedic surgeon
83
132
Paediatrician
83
124
Pathologist
496.80 fixed fee
141
Pharmacologist
82.8
112.24
Physiotherapist
74.52
74.52
Plastic surgeon
82.8
124.2
Psychiatrist
82.8
124.2
Psychologist
82.8
107.64
Radiologist
82.8
124.2
Rheumatologist
82.8
124.2
Risk assessment expert
57.96
57.96
Speech therapist
82.8
91.08
Surgeon
82.8
124.2
Surveyor
46
46
Toxicologist
82.8
124.2
Urologist
82.8
124.2
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