What approximate percentage, if any, of lead counsel criminal appellate litigation is outsourced from the Crown Law Office to external counsel in the private sector?

Answer

In the 2025/26 financial year, external lead counsel appeared in approximately 41% of criminal appeals and leave applications arising from Crown prosecutions that were heard by the senior courts. Approximately 91% of High Court matters were led by external counsel and 9% by Crown Law. In the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, approximately 19% of matters were led by external counsel and 81% by Crown Law. In almost all cases, the external counsel who appeared for the Crown was from the office of the Crown Solicitor responsible for the underlying prosecution.