Legal Aid Scheme: Claiming Expenses

Q. I have been summoned as a witness to attend court on behalf of the defence to give professional evidence at the hearing of a case in relation to a patient of mine who is in receipt of criminal free legal aid. What is criminal legal aid? How do I claim expenses in respect of my attendance at court?

A. Criminal free legal aid is representation by a solicitor or barrister for the defence of persons of insufficient means in criminal proceedings. The Criminal Legal Aid Scheme is administered by the Department of Justice. Claim forms for medical report and for court appearance may be downloaded from the Department of Justice website at www.justice.ie. On home page, select Courts Policy/Legal Services. Then select application forms. The claim forms required are as follows:

• Claim form L.A.5 - Claim for fee for medical or technical report necessarily required for use by the defence in a case in relation to which a certificate for free legal aid has been granted.
• Claim form L.A.3 - Claim for fees and expenses by a witness holding a professional qualification, whether medical or otherwise, who was summoned and attended court on behalf of the defence to give professional evidence at the hearing of a case in relation to which a certificate for free legal aid has been granted.

There is no set schedule of fees for preparation of reports
for court attendance.