Crime (State) - counsel - Oct 2011

Fees for State law matters for approvals made on or after 17 Oct 2011

Solicitor Advocate/Uninstructed Counsel Fees
District Court - Counsel Fees
Specialist Barrister panel (Complex Criminal Matters) – Counsel Fees
Supreme Court - Counsel Fees
Court of Criminal Appeal- Counsel Fees
High Court - Counsel Fees
Additional Preparation
Travel Entitlements
Frequently Asked Questions

1. Solicitor Advocate/Uninstructed Counsel Fees

Scale of fees for approvals made on or after 17 Oct 2011

Fee scale applies to the following District Court matters:

Matters which do not fall within the definition of Complex Criminal Matter; and
Matters committed to the District Court which are not complex and approval has been obtained for the solicitor advocate or uninstructed counsel to appear

Note: Sentence Matters - Refer to Local Court Committals/ District Court & Supreme Court Sentences fee scale for Committal matters charged on or after 1 January 2006.

Trial preparation fee and first day of trial (Note: Pre trial conference fee is included in preparation fee)	$1,684.00
Subsequent days of trial: Per hour Maximum per day Per co-accused represented per day	$225.00 $1,125.00 $294.00
Conference with client or witness	$150.00
Mention: Per hour in Court	$150.00
Appearance on Sentence: Per day	$675.00
Additional Approvals No other payments will be made unless prior approval is obtained.
Travel Entitlements

Recovery of costs in criminal matters - Solicitors and Counsel in criminal matters will be paid at a rate of 175% of the legal aid fee rates when;

An order for costs is made in favour of the legally aided accused person under the Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001 and the Criminal Procedure Act 1986, or
An order for costs is made in favour of the legally aided accused person by the Supreme Court in prerogative writ matters or similar proceedings, or
The legally aided accused person is granted a certificate under Section 2 of the Costs in Criminal Cases Act 1967.

2. District Court - Counsel Fees

Scale of fees for approvals made on or after 17 Oct 2011

Note: For sentence matters where a plea of guilty is entered in the Local Court, refer to Local Court/District Court & Supreme Court Sentences Fees Scale for Committal matters charged on or after.

Junior Counsel

Note: Fee scale applies to the following District Court matters:

Matters which do not fall within the definition of Complex Criminal Matter;
Matters which do fall within the definition of Complex Criminal Law Matter and prior approval has been given for junior counsel who is not appointed to the Specialist Barrister Panel (Complex Criminal Matters) to be briefed.

Refer to Scale of fees: Specialist Barrister Panel (Complex Criminal Matter) where such criteria is met.

Initial trial grant

Counsel brief fee	· Reading the brief (based on 1 day)including conference with the client	$1,140
Visit to correctional centre		$150

Counsel may be briefed before arraignment.

The initial trial grant includes perusal of the brief, taking instructions and a conference with the client in a correctional centre, where applicable.

The brief fee is paid once only. Counsel engaged at committal, either to advise on the brief or on a direct access basis, or briefed for the committal, will not be eligible to claim the initial trial grant brief fee as this fee will already have been paid. Once briefed, counsel should make all efforts to remain in the matter.

The same counsel should retain the brief for all stages of the proceedings, including retaining the matter for trial where briefed at committal or before arraignment.

Preparation in addition to the initial trial grant will not be considered before arraignment unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Mention	· 1 Hour · 2 Hours · 3 Hours · All day	$199.00 $285.00 $388.00 $656.00
Conferences Per accused/ witness Visit to correctional centre	per journey	$150.00 $150.00
View	Fee as for mention, plus necessary travel expenses if held in the country
No Bill Application/Notice of Motion/other Interlocutory Applications		$213.00 per hour to a max. of 5 hours
Appearance in Court	Daily Appearance fee	$987.00
Each co-accused represented, per day of trial		$220.00
Conference with accused, where trial exceeds one week {up to two (2) per week where held during the trial}		$150.00
Appearance on plea of guilty or sentence following trial	per day	$619.00
Additional preparation	By negotiation	See guidelines
Travel Entitlements

Queen's Counsel (Q.C.), Senior Counsel (S.C.)

Note: In District Court proceedings it is a condition of the grant of legal aid that a practitioner must not brief senior counsel unless Legal Aid NSW has given express approval. Senior Counsel will only be approved in exceptional circumstances.

Initial trial grant

Counsel brief fee	· Reading the brief (based on 1 day) including conference with the client	$1,660
Visit to correctional centre		$150

Counsel may be briefed before arraignment.

The initial trial grant includes perusal of the brief, taking instructions and a conference with the client in a correctional facility, where applicable.

The same counsel should retain the brief for all stages of the proceedings, including retaining the matter for trial where briefed at committal or before arraignment.

Preparation in addition to the initial trial grant will not be considered before arraignment unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Mention	· 1 Hour · 2 Hours · 3 Hours · All day	$199.00 $285.00 $388.00 $656.00
Conferences Per accused/ witness Visit to correctional centre	per journey	$220.00 $150
View	Fee as for mention, plus necessary travel expenses if held in the country
No Bill Application/Notice of Motion/ other Interlocutory Applications		$287.00 per hour to a max. of 5 hours
Appearance in Court	Daily appearance fee	$1,440
Each co-accused represented, per day of trial		$302.00
Conference with accused, where trial exceeds one week {up to two (2) per week where held during the trial}		$220.00
Appearance on plea of guilty or sentence following trial	per day	$822.00
Reading/preparation fee	By negotiation	See guidelines
Travel Entitlements

Recovery of costs in criminal matters - Solicitors and Counsel in criminal matters will be paid at a rate of 175% of the legal aid fee rates when;

An order for costs is made in favour of the legally aided accused person under the Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001 and the Criminal Procedure Act 1986, or
An order for costs is made in favour of the legally aided accused person by the Supreme Court in prerogative writ matters or similar proceedings, or
The legally aided accused person is granted a certificate under Section 2 of theCosts in Criminal Cases Act 1967.

3. Specialist Barrister Panel (Complex Criminal Matters) - Counsel Fees

Scale of fees for approvals made on or after 17 Oct 2011

Junior Counsel

Note: For matters that come under the definition of a Complex Criminal Matter.

Refer to 2. District Court – Counsel Fees for a) matters that do not come under this definition b) all Queens Counsel, Senior Counsel or c) Junior Counsel not appointed to the Specialist Barrister Panel.

Initial trial grant

Counsel brief fee	· Reading the brief (based on 1 day) including conference with the client	$1,300
Visit to correctional centre		$150

Complex Criminal Matter

A complex criminal matter includes:

All Supreme Court trials and pleas;
Manslaughter trials and pleas;
Matters where the trial is complex because of the nature of the charge or the defence. For example: sex slavery, fraud or money laundering charges where there are more than 30 counts and/or the total value is more than $500,000.00;
Trials identified by the trial judge as requiring significant case management pursuant to s.141 Criminal Procedure Act 1986;
Where the trial length is estimated at 20 days or more;
Where the brief of evidence is more than 5,000 pages;
All terrorism matters;
Sexual assault trials where there are multiple complainants and/or multiple defendants.

Counsel may be briefed before arraignment.

The initial trial grant includes perusal of the brief, taking instructions and a conference with the client in a correctional centre, where applicable.

The same counsel should retain the brief for all stages of the proceedings, including retaining the matter for trial where briefed at committal or before arraignment.

Preparation in addition to the initial trial grant will not be considered before arraignment unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Mention	· 1 Hour · 2 Hours · 3 Hours · All day	$199.00 $285.00 $388.00 $656.00
Conferences Per accused/ witness Visit to correctional centre	per journey	$150.00 $150.00
View	Fee as for mention, plus necessary travel expenses if held in the country
No Bill Application/Notice of Motion/other Interlocutory Applications		$230.00 per hour to a max. of 5 hours
Appearance in Court	Daily Appearance fee	$ 1,150.00
Each co-accused represented, per day of trial		$220.00
Conference with accused, where trial exceeds one week {up to two (2) per week where held during the trial}		$150.00
Appearance on plea of guilty or sentence following trial	$829	Up to 2 days fixed
Additional preparation	By negotiation	See guidelines
Travel Entitlements

4. Supreme Court - Counsel Fees

Scale of fees for approvals made on or after 17 Oct 2011

Junior Counsel

Note: For junior counsel in Supreme Court matters who are not appointed to the Specialist Barrister Panel (Complex Criminal Matters). Exceptional circumstances apply.

Refer to Scale of fees: Specialist Barrister Panel (Complex Criminal Matter) where such criteria is met.

Initial trial grant

Counsel brief fee	· Reading the brief (based on 1 day)including conference with the client	$1,290
Visit to correctional centre		$150

Counsel may be briefed before arraignment

The initial trial grant includes perusal of the brief, taking instructions and a conference with the client in a correctional centre, where applicable.

The same counsel should retain the brief for all stages of the proceedings, including retaining the matter for trial where briefed at committal or before arraignment.

Preparation in addition to the initial trial grant will not be considered before arraignment unless exceptional circumstances.

Mention	· 1 Hour · 2 Hours · 3 Hours · All day	$199.00 $285.00 $388.00 $656.00
Conferences Per accused/ witness Visit to correctional centre	per journey	$150.00 $150.00
View	Fee as for mention, plus necessary travel expenses if held in the country
No Bill Applications/Notice of Motion/ other Interlocutory Applications		$227.00 per hour to a max. of 5 hours
Appearance in Court	Daily appearance fee	$1,140.00
Each co-accused represented, per day of trial		$220.00
Conference with accused, where trial exceeds one week {up to two (2) per week where held during the trial}		$150.00
Appearance on plea of guilty or sentence	per day	$822.00
Reading/preparation fee	By negotiation	See guidelines a
Travel Entitlements

Queen's Counsel (Q.C.) / Senior Counsel (S.C.)

Initial trial grant

Counsel brief fee	· Reading the brief (based on 1 day) including conference with the client	$2,080
Visit to correctional centre		$150

Counsel may be briefed before arraignment

The initial trial grant includes perusal of the brief, taking instructions and a conference with the client in a correctional centre, where applicable.

The same counsel should retain the brief for all stages of the proceedings, including retaining the matter for trial where briefed at committal or before arraignment.

Preparation in addition to the initial trial grant will not be considered before arraignment unless exceptional circumstances.

Mention	· 1 Hour · 2 Hours · 3 Hours · All day	$199.00 $285.00 $388.00 $656.00
Conferences Per accused/ witness Visit to correctional centre	per journey	$220.00 $150
View	Fee as for mention, plus necessary travel expenses if held in the country
No Bill Applications/Notice of Motion/ other Interlocutory Applications		$372.00 per hour to a max. of 5 hours
Appearance in Court	Daily appearance fee	$1,860.00
Each co-accused represented, per day of trial		$302.00
Conference with accused, where trial exceeds one week {up to two (2) per week where held during the trial}		$220.00
Appearance on plea of guilty or sentence following trial	per day	$1,106.00
Reading/preparation fee	By negotiation	See Guidelinesa
Travel Entitlements

Recovery of costs in criminal matters - Solicitors and Counsel in criminal matters will be paid at a rate of 175% of the legal aid fee rates when;

An order for costs is made in favour of the legally aided accused person under the Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001 and the Criminal Procedure Act 1986, or
An order for costs is made in favour of the legally aided accused person by the Supreme Court in prerogative writ matters or similar proceedings, or
The legally aided accused person is granted a certificate under Section 2 of the Costs in Criminal Cases Act 1967.

5. Court of Criminal Appeal - Counsel Fees

Scale of fees for approvals made on or after 17 Oct 2011.

Junior Counsel

Opinion as to Merit of Appeal		$798.00
Mention	· 1 Hour · 2 Hours · 3 Hours · All day	$199.00 $285.00 $388.00 $656.00
Conferences Per accused/ witness Visit to Gaol/ shelter	a per journey	$150.00 $135.00
Appearance in Court	First day of appeal Thereafter, per day of appeal	$1,742.00 $1,140.00
Each co-accused represented, per day of appeal		$220.00
Reading/preparation fee	By negotiation	a
Travel Entitlements

Queen's Counsel (Q.C.) / Senior Counsel (S.C.)

Opinion on Merit of Appeal		$980.00
Mention	· 1 Hour · 2 Hours · 3 Hours · All day	$199.00 $285.00 $388.00 $656.00
Conferences Per accused/ witness Visit to gaol/ shelter	per journey	$220.00 $183.00
Appearance in Court	First day of appeal Thereafter, per day of appeal	$2,628.00 $1,860.00
Each co-accused represented, per day of appeal	a	$302.00
Reading/preparation fee	By negotiation	a
Travel Entitlements

Recovery of costs in criminal matters - Solicitors and Counsel in criminal matters will be paid at a rate of 175% of the legal aid fee rates when;

An order for costs is made in favour of the legally aided accused person under the Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001 and the Criminal Procedure Act 1986, or
An order for costs is made in favour of the legally aided accused person by the Supreme Court in prerogative writ matters or similar proceedings, or
The legally aided accused person is granted a certificate under Section 2 of the Costs in Criminal Cases Act 1967.

6. High Court - Counsel Fees

Scale of fees for approvals made on or after 17 Oct 2011.

Junior Counsel

Opinion on Merit of Appeal		$798.00
Mention	· 1 Hour · 2 Hours · 3 Hours · All day	$199.00 $285.00 $388.00 $656.00
Conferences Per accused/ witness Visit to gaol/ shelter	a per journey	$150.00 $135.00
Appearance in Court	First day of appeal Thereafter, per day of appeal	$1,742.00 $1,140.00
Each co-accused represented, per day of appeal	a	$220.00
Reading/preparation fee	By negotiation	a
Travel Entitlements

Queen's Counsel (Q.C.) / Senior Counsel (S.C.)

Opinion on Merit of Appeal		$980.00
Mention	· 1 Hour · 2 Hours · 3 Hours · All day	$199.00 $285.00 $388.00 $656.00
Conferences Per accused/ witness Visit to gaol/ shelter	per journey	$220.00 $183.00
Appearance in Court	First day of appeal Thereafter, per day of appeal	$2,628.00 $1,860.00
Each co-accused represented, per day of appeal	a	$302.00
Reading/preparation fee	By negotiation
Travel Entitlements

7. Additional Preparation

Committal

Legal practitioner (including counsel on a direct access brief)

A legal practitioner (including counsel on a direct access brief) appearing for a legally aided client at committal may make an application for payment of fees for preparation (including reading, conferences, listening to tape recordings, inspection of exhibits, views) in addition to the brief fee paid in the standard committal grant. However, additional preparation will not usually be considered at committal unless there is something extraordinary about the brief. Approval for additional preparation and the fee payable is at the absolute discretion of the Director Criminal Law or the Director Grants or their nominee.

Following committal, a legal practitioner may seek additional preparation in relation to material not served prior to committal.

Approval is subject to the Additional Preparation Guidelines.

Counsel (where approval has been obtained for counsel to advise on the brief and/or approval has been given for counsel to be briefed at committal)

Where approval has been obtained for counsel to advise on the brief and/or appear for a legally aided client, counsel may make an application for payment of fees for preparation (including reading, conferences, listening to tape recordings, inspection of exhibits, views) in addition to the fee paid to advise on the brief. However, additional preparation will not usually be considered at committal unless there is something extraordinary about the brief. Approval for Additional Preparation and the fee payable is at the absolute discretion of the Director Criminal Law or the Director Grants or their nominee.

All fees paid at committal will be paid at the Legal Practitioner rate.

Where additional preparation is allowed, counsel will be required to keep a record of time spent on preparation and a synopsis of material read.

The fee for counsel to advise on the brief and/or any fee paid as preparation at committal will be deducted from the fee for preparation for trial.

Approval is subject to the Additional Preparation Guidelines.

Trial

Solicitor

Following committal, a legal practitioner may seek additional preparation in relation to material not served prior to committal.

Approval is subject to the Additional Preparation Guidelines.

Counsel

A fee for reading the brief will be paid to counsel once only. Counsel engaged at committal either on a direct access basis, or to advise on the brief and/or to appear at committal will not be eligible to claim the initial trial grant brief fee as this fee will have already been paid.

Preparation in addition to the fee at committal or the initial trial grant will generally not be considered before arraignment unless there is something extraordinary about the brief.

Approval is subject to the Additional Preparation Guidelines.

Guidelines for Additional Preparation

An application for payment of fees for additional preparation (including reading, conferences, listening to tape recordings, inspection of exhibits, views) are subject to the following guidelines:

Before additional fees for preparation will be considered, Legal Aid NSW will require:
(a) an estimate of the amount of time it will take to read and prepare the case;
(b) details of the nature and extent of preparation, including the nature of documents to be perused;
(c) where counsel is briefed, details about which preparation is to be undertaken by counsel and which preparation will be undertaken by the solicitor; and
(d) an estimate of the court time if the matter goes to hearing/trial.
If necessary, Legal Aid NSW will independently examine the documents and may require further and better particulars about the amount of preparation necessary.
Requests for additional preparation must be made within sufficient time for the request to be considered by Legal Aid NSW.
A practitioner must comply with the file management procedures outlined in the Practice Standards.
A practitioner is presumed to know the law. A fee will not be paid for researching the law.
Additional fees for preparation will only be allowed where the preparation is necessary and in exceptional circumstances.

Method for calculating additional preparation

Applications for additional reading may be considered if the brief contains more than 600 pages of reading/scanning material or, preparation sought is greater than a total of 6 hours (where there is a combination of reading/scanning, viewing), and the trial will have one or more of the following characteristics

a) the trial is likely to exceed 10 days, or has taken more than 10 days and the conviction/sentence is appealed;

b) the trial involves multiple accused or multiple offences;

c) the trial involves complex legal issues, such as

i) charges relating to relatively untested law (e.g. terrorism),

ii) complex fraud or money laundering trials,

iii) commercial manufacture or supply of a prohibited drug,

iv) multiple offences against complainants

v) contested expert evidence

2. The method of calculating the fee rate for preparation will apply:

a) Reading by both practitioners

i) Statements

ii) Record of interview

iii) Viewing the record of interview

b) Reading by the barrister only

i) Committal transcript

c) Reading/watching/listening by solicitor or barrister only, but not both

i) Transcripts of telephone intercepts

ii) Transcripts of listening devices

iii) Transcripts of surveillance logs

d) Scanning by either solicitor or barrister but not both practitioners

i) Previous trial transcript

ii) Surveillance logs other than surveillance logs transcribed

iii) Photographs

iv) Financial documents

v) Video/audio tapes other than video/audio tapes transcribed

vi) Medical reports

3. The fee for reading the brief will be paid at the applicable practitioner hourly rate.

4. The fee for scanning the brief will be paid at ½ the applicable practitioner hourly rate.

Note: The amount of additional preparation payable is at the absolute discretion of the CEO, Executive Director Criminal Law, Executive Director, Grants & Community Partnerships, Director Grants or their nominee.

8. Travel Entitlements

Travel Allowance for approvals made on or after 17 Oct 2011

A travel allowance and lump sum payment is paid if the total return distance travelled from the legal practitioner's office to court exceeds 70 kilometres, and the practitioner is travelling to a court located outside the Sydney metropolitan area.
The Sydney metropolitan area includes all courts within the area bounded by:
- Hornsby;
- Penrith;
- Campbelltown; and
- Sutherland.
Unless there are exceptional circumstances, the travel allowance will not be approved where the matter could be assigned to:
- a practitioner located within 35kms of the court;
- a practitioner who is significantly closer to the court;
- a practitioner who has other matters at the court on the same day.
Prior approval to claim the travel allowance must be obtained from Legal Aid NSW.
- Unless there are exceptional circumstances, the travel allowance will not be approved in circumstances where a practitioner appointed to a panel has nominated their availability for a panel court out outside the geographical area surrounding their office.
- Pursuant to the Duty Solicitor Scheme Guidelines travel is not generally paid to practitioners rostered to attend court as the Duty Solicitor except where there has been prior approval by Legal Aid NSW or the duty work is undertaken in one of the regions nominated in the Duty Solicitor Scheme Guidelines.
If travel allowance is being claimed, approval should be sought in the original application.
Travel allowance cannot be claimed more than once per day to the same court, regardless of the number of legal aid applicants being represented at that court.

Travel Allowance

Where approved, travel expenses will be paid at a rate of $0.60 per kilometre, or where appropriate, a return economy airfare (which ever is the cheaper).

Lump sum payment for travel time

A lump sum of $100 for travel time is paid in addition to the travel allowance of $0.60 per kilometre. The lump sum payment for travel time may only be claimed once per day on which travel allowance is payable.

Accommodation

Where approved, accommodation expenses (including sustenance) will be paid as incurred to the maximum rates determined by the Department of Premier and Cabinet of the NSW government in accordance with comparable public sector award rates based on the reasonable benefit limits set by the Australian Tax Office (as updated annually).

9. Frequently Asked Questions

Is travel allowance available for appeals?

Yes, provided the criteria for the travel allowance is met and prior approval is obtained.

If travel allowance is approved for a trial, is an allowance paid for accommodation and meals?

Yes. Actual expenses for meals and accommodation may be payable for each 24 hour period up to the maximum rates determined by the Public Employment Office of the NSW government in accordance with comparable public sector award rates based on the reasonable benefit limits set by the Australian Tax Office (as updated annually). If an accommodation and sustenance allowance is approved, the applicable rate will be provided to you at the time of the grant or extension. All receipts must be provided and actual expenses only may be recovered.

My client has asked me to appear for him at a court that is more than 35kms from my office. My client insists that I appear and is unwilling to accept another solicitor. Is the travel allowance available?

Generally a travel allowance will not be approved where a practitioner located within 35 kms of the Court is available to appear for the client. In exceptional circumstances travel may be approved e.g. where the client is a child, or has a disability, and Legal Aid NSW agrees that continuity of representation is in the interests of the client.

Is travel allowance payable for views?

Yes, however, prior approval for the view must be obtained from Legal Aid NSW and will be limited to views conducted outside the Sydney metropolitan area.

How do I calculate the driving/road distance between destinations?

The website http://www.travelmate.com.au may assist in calculating distance between destinations.

Am I allowed to engage an agent?

In ordinary circumstances, a practitioner is not entitled to claim an additional grant of aid to instruct an agent. Where an agent is retained because the assigned practitioner is unavailable, the agent must be a panel practitioner and must be paid out of the assigned practitioner’s lump sum fee for any court attendance up to the hearing stage.

Mentions: An additional allowance to instruct an agent at a mention will not be approved unless the practitioner can show that the matter is complex enough to justify an instructing allowance and:

Legal Aid NSW is satisfied that engaging an agent is an economical use of legal aid funds; or
exceptional circumstances exist.

Hearings: The use of an agent at a hearing will only be approved in exceptional circumstances. If a practitioner cannot attend a hearing it will generally be considered more appropriate for the matter to be reassigned to an available panel practitioner.

Crime (State) - counsel - Oct 2011

1. Solicitor Advocate/Uninstructed Counsel Fees

2. District Court - Counsel Fees

3. Specialist Barrister Panel (Complex Criminal Matters) - Counsel Fees

4. Supreme Court - Counsel Fees

5. Court of Criminal Appeal - Counsel Fees

6. High Court - Counsel Fees

7. Additional Preparation

8. Travel Entitlements

9. Frequently Asked Questions

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