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Guideline 7.5 – appeal against sentence in the Court of Appeal

VLA may make a grant of legal assistance for an appeal against sentence where there are reasonable grounds for the appeal and there is a reasonable prospect that the Court would impose a less severe sentence than the sentence first imposed.

Documentary requirements

Applications under this guideline are only made by the standard grants assessment process. A grant of legal assistance will not normally be made to a member of the Section 30 Referral Panel.

A member of the Section 29 Indictable Crime Panel or other person seeking a grant of legal assistance should forward the listed documents to VLA for assessment: 

  • a completed VLA application form 
  • relevant proof of means and,
  • if they are available: 
    • the advice of trial or appellate counsel 
    • the relevant court transcripts and judgments.