
Your Strategic Partner in Legal Costs with 30+ Years of Experience
Independent, outcome-focused costs support across Legal Aid, Court of Protection, public law and personal injury matters
Legal Aid Costs Drafting and CCMS Support
Legal Aid costs claims are subject to strict procedural requirements and increasing scrutiny by the Legal Aid Agency. Delays, rejections, and reduced payment commonly arise where claims are not prepared in accordance with current CCMS requirements, funding limits, or LAA expectations.
We provide specialist Legal Aid costs drafting and CCMS support to solicitors and Legal Aid providers, with a focus on securing payment efficiently, reducing avoidable rejections, and protecting cashflow across civil, family, and Court of Protection matters.
Practical guidance on avoiding CCMS rejections is available here:
What We Do for Legal Aid Costs
We support Legal Aid practitioners by preparing and managing costs claims from instruction through to payment. Our work includes:
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Preparation of Legal Aid bills and claims
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CCMS submissions and claim management
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Applications for payments on account
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Amendments to funding limits
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Allocation and claiming of Counsel’s fees
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Liaison with the Legal Aid Agency to resolve queries and delays
Our approach is practical and payment-focused, aimed at minimising disruption to fee earners and ensuring claims are presented in a form the LAA expects.
CCMS Support in Practice
CCMS is often the point at which Legal Aid claims encounter difficulty. We provide end-to-end CCMS support, including submission, correction, resubmission, and response to LAA notifications and requests for further information.
Our team works closely with practitioners to ensure that claims comply with current LAA requirements and are progressed efficiently through the system.
High Cost Case Plans
High Cost Case Plans are a specialist area of Legal Aid work and are often instructed as a standalone service. We prepare and amend High Cost Case Plans across civil, family, and Court of Protection matters, ensuring that assumptions, future work, and disbursements are properly evidenced and aligned with funding requirements.
For dedicated support with High Cost Case Plans, see our High Cost Case Plan services page.
Our Process
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Instructions are provided electronically via our secure portal or case management system
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We review the funding position, claim structure, and supporting material
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The costs claim, CCMS submission, or supporting documentation is prepared
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We manage correspondence and queries with the Legal Aid Agency
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Upon payment notification, we report clearly and promptly to you
Urgent and priority instructions can be accommodated where required
Why Choose SPH Costing Services
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A dedicated Legal Aid team with extensive CCMS experience
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Costs Lawyers regulated by the Costs Lawyers Standards Board
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Long-standing familiarity with LAA procedures and expectations
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A practical focus on payment, cashflow, and reducing delays
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Experience across Legal Aid, inter partes, and Court of Protection costs
Guidance and Resources
For an overview of how Legal Aid costs drafting and assessment operates in practice, see our Legal Aid costs drafting guidance.
Contact
To discuss Legal Aid costs instructions, contact Elisse Bradbury
Tel: 01772 435550
Email: egb@sphcosts.com
