An amendment to the LASPO Bill has been tabled in the House of Lords calling for the release of restrained funds to pay for a defendant?s legal costs in criminal cases.

Although the amendment was withdrawn at Committee stage, it will be brought back at Report stage and the Law Society needs to provide the Lords who have tabled the amendment with as much ammunition as possible to persuade the Government to accept it.  To this end, the Law Society is asking for example case studies which would support the arguments.

Ideally they're for a recent legally aided case, in which - following seizure proceedings - some money was returned to the client / not all of the client?s assets were seized, and this could have been used to fund the client?s legal advice.

Below are links to the extract from the Committee stage debate in the House of Lords, including the amendment itself; and the Law Society?s briefing in support.