Boosted Legal Aid Fees For Immigration Lawyers Not Enough, Say Legal Experts

Bodies representing the legal industry say the new 15 percent rise in the legal aid rate will also fail to address the UK’s spiralling asylum caseload.

A fisherman watches as illegal immigrants land on Deal beach after crossing the English Channel from France in a dinghy, in Deal, England, on Sept. 14, 2020. Luke Dray/Getty Images

Legal experts have warned that the government’s newly announced boost in hourly legal aid rates for illegal immigration cases is not enough to deal with the UK’s spiralling asylum caseload.

The 15 percent rise in fees, along with added travel expenses, was announced by justice minister Lord Bellamy last week.