Practice Directions
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PRACTICE DIRECTION – 13.1

CERTIFICATE FOR SOLICITOR AND COUNSEL IN LEGAL AID CASES

1.    Counsel or solicitor seeking a certificate under r.21(2) (High Court) or under r.21(3) (District Court) of the Legal Aid in Criminal Cases Rules may apply by letter to the trial judge or Court of Appeal, as the case may be, setting forth therein the facts on which reliance is placed to show that the case was one of exceptional length or complexity.

2.    The letter should be copied to the Director of Legal Aid who may, within seven days, make written representations in support of, or in opposition to, the grant of a certificate, with a copy to the counsel or solicitor concerned, who may, by further letter within seven days, reply thereto, which reply should be copied to the judge or the Court of Appeal. The time limit of seven days may be extended by the judge or the Court of Appeal.

3.    The judge, or Court of Appeal may, when granting or refusing a certificate, comment as is thought fit.