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United Kingdom · First-tier & Upper Tribunal

Publicly funded expert evidence

Country evidence for legal aid asylum cases.

Tribunal-ready, LAA-compliant country condition reports for solicitors acting in publicly funded proceedings across the United Kingdom.

Legal aid does not mean lower quality — it means essential justice. Every report is built for the realities of publicly funded asylum work.

01

LAA compliance

Reports drafted to meet funding criteria, structured to support prior authority applications and tribunal-ready evidence standards.

02

Accessible pricing

Designed for fixed-fee and hourly legal aid billing — proportionate costs that respect public funding constraints without compromising quality.

03

Turnaround

Engineered to meet tribunal deadlines without compromising depth — efficient delivery for high-volume legal aid caseloads.

Public-funded expert evidence standards

A specialist firm for the legal aid landscape — not high-margin private practice. Every report is built for Controlled Work, Certificated Work, and Exceptional Case Funding (ECF) pathways.

  1. 01

    LAA codified hourly rates met

    Expert fees aligned with standard Legal Aid Agency codified hourly rate caps.

  2. 02

    FPR Part 25 standard asserted

    Reports prepared in accordance with Family Procedure Rules Part 25 expert evidence requirements.

  3. 03

    Formatted for prior authority

    Structured scope, methodology, and cost breakdowns for LAA prior authority applications.

Questions

Common questions from legal aid practitioners and asylum seekers.

View all questions

For Legal Aid Solicitors

Common questions from practitioners instructing expert evidence in publicly funded asylum and immigration cases.

How do your reports support LAA prior authority applications?

Each instruction begins with a written scope of work setting out the evidentiary gap, methodology, hour estimate, and fee aligned with Legal Aid Agency codified hourly rates. The scope is formatted for submission with your prior authority application to the LAA.

What turnaround can we expect for tribunal deadlines?

Turnaround depends on scope and country complexity. We work to your hearing date and will confirm a delivery schedule at instruction. Urgent matters are accommodated where capacity allows — please state your tribunal deadline when instructing.

Which countries of origin do you cover?

We provide country condition evidence across a wide range of countries of origin relevant to UK asylum and immigration appeals. Contact us with your case particulars and we will confirm availability and specialist fit before you apply for prior authority.

How do I brief an expert?

Complete the brief form with case particulars, funding pathway (Controlled Work, Certificated Work, or Exceptional Case Funding), and tribunal deadline. We will respond with a scope of work and quote suitable for LAA submission. Email cases@legalaidexpertwitness.co.uk if you prefer to send a brief by email.

Can the expert attend the tribunal hearing?

Yes. Oral expert evidence can be arranged where required. Attendance fees are scoped separately and included in prior authority applications in the usual way.

What does your scope document include for prior authority?

Each scope sets out the evidentiary gap, proposed methodology, hour estimate mapped to LAA codified rates, total fee, and delivery timetable. It is formatted for direct submission with your prior authority application and can be revised if the LAA requests clarification.

Do reports include the CPR Part 35 expert declaration?

Yes. Reports include the expert's statement of truth, CV, declaration of compliance with CPR Part 35 and FPR Part 25, and the overriding duty to the tribunal under Practice Direction 12. Questions of compliance are addressed in the body of the report.

How do you handle confidential asylum case information?

Case particulars are processed only for the purpose of scoping and delivering expert evidence. We do not share client data with third parties except where required by law or tribunal direction. Instruction enquiries are stored securely and retained in line with our privacy policy.

For Asylum Seekers

Clear answers about expert evidence in plain language. You do not need to contact us directly — your solicitor handles instruction.

What is an expert witness?

An expert witness is an independent specialist who provides factual, court-ready evidence about conditions in your country of origin. Their report helps the tribunal understand whether it is safe for you to return.

Can I get an expert witness through legal aid?
Should I contact Legal Aid Expert Witness directly?

No. Expert evidence is instructed by your solicitor, not by you personally. If you think a country report would help your case, speak to your legal aid solicitor. They will assess whether expert evidence is needed and apply for funding if appropriate.

How long does it take to get a report?

This depends on your case and tribunal timetable. Your solicitor will agree a delivery date with the expert once Legal Aid Agency funding is approved. The expert works to your hearing date where possible.

LAA-compliant expert witness services across the UK

Legal Aid Expert Witness is a UK-only specialist provider of country condition reports and expert testimony for legally aided asylum and immigration proceedings.

For legal aid practitioners

Our reports satisfy Legal Aid Agency funding requirements under standard codified hourly rates, with scopes proportioned for fixed-fee and hourly Certificated Work. Reports are formatted for prior authority submissions and comply with CPR Part 35 and FPR Part 25 expert evidence standards, including the expert's overriding duty to the tribunal under Practice Direction 12.

Submit a brief

Ready to commission expert evidence?

Send case particulars and a tribunal deadline. We will return a scope of work formatted for your LAA prior authority application.