Guidance

Apply for legal aid for civil contempt cases

Guidance on the funding of civil contempt, how to apply and how to get paid.

From:
Legal Aid Agency
Published
16 June 2015
Last updated
163 SeptemberFebruary 20242025 — See all updates

Applies to England and Wales

Apply for a representation order

Civil contempt proceedings are criminal for the purposes of legal aid as there is a risk that the client may go to prison.

Providers with a crime contract should apply using the Apply for criminal legal aid service.

Providers without a crime contract must email the CRM14 paper application.

Providers without a crime contract, or a 2024 Standard Civil Contract in the relevant area of law, need to meet the criteria for an Individual Case Contract (ICC).

Read Apply for legal aid in civil contempt cases guidance (PDF, 436482 KB, 1112 pages) for full details of the application process, as well as how to make a claim.

Please note, although the process for breach of an injunction under part 1 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act is broadly similar, separate guidance is available.

Read Apply for legal aid for breaches of civil injunctions under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

Please be advised that proceedings in relation to gang-related injunctions under s.34 of the Policing & Crime Act 2009 are not a criminal matter. As the client has not been charged with a criminal offence. Only breaches of these injunctions are prescribed as criminal proceedings by virtue of section 14(h) of LASPO 2012 and regulation 9(v) of the Criminal Legal Aid (General) Regulations 2013. Should you require representation to respond to a gang-related injunction a civil application will be required. Providers need to meet the criteria for an Individual Case Contract (ICC). Access to the CCMS portal can be arranged through your Contract Manager. Civil applications are means and merit tested, and full justification will be required.

Claim for payment

Submit CRMCLAIM11 form (PDF, 121 KB, 2 pages).

Submit CRM8 form to claim assigned counsels fees.

Read Apply for legal aid in civil contempt cases guidance (PDF, 436482 KB, 1112 pages) for further guidance.

Please note, although the process for breach of an injunction under part of the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act is broadly similar, the billing process has some differences. Separate guidance is therefore available.

Read Apply for legal aid for breaches of civil injunctions under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

Updates to this page

Published 16 June 2015
Last updated 163 SeptemberFebruary 2024 2025 + show all updates

  1. Updated guidance to include the new email for requests for cost limit increases in contempt cases.

  2. Updated to clarify how firms without a crime contract apply for a representation order.

  4. Updated to reflect the transition from the CRM14 eForm to the Apply for criminal legal aid service.

  6. Small amendment to the guidance document - about further breaches of the same injunction.

  8. Guidance document updated to reflect our changing approach to series of offences.

  10. Guidance document updated to include information on the cost limit and how to increase it.

  12. Published updated guidance, and guidance on breaches of anti-social behaviour injunctions moved to a separate page.

  14. Updated guidance published.

  16. First published.

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