Fee Schedule 1A – Fees payable in criminal matters if an Appeal Costs Certificate has been granted

The fees payable by Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) in criminal matters if an Appeal Costs Certificate has been granted, are set out in Table BBB.

These fees are effective from 1 October 2011.

For fees payable in matters prior to this date, see Costs payable in criminal law matters in the VLA Handbook (September 2011).

Principles

Taking a brief for any day on which a certificate is given

If counsel takes a brief on any day where a certificate is given, then VLA will not pay any fee for that day. This rule applies regardless of the fee marked on the brief.

Successful appeals

For a successful appeal where a certificate is given the amount payable is the cost of the appeal.

New counsel

If a judge grants an Appeal Costs Certificate and it is necessary for new counsel to be briefed, then the first counsel is still entitled to the full fees that would have been payable to them without discount, including:

• the brief fee
• the preparation fee
• the conference fee
• if appropriate, the second day fee.

Adjournment of first day of trial

Where a trial is adjourned and does not commence until the expiration of ten days then VLA will pay additional fees on the basis of a retrial, as per Table BBB.

Circuit fees

Daily circuit fees

If a daily circuit fee is payable in a matter, then it is the fee that would have been payable if there had been no adjournment.

Trial circuit fees

If a trial does not begin again on the same day or on the next court day, then VLA will pay a new circuit fee.

Retrials

Counsel

Where a retrial commences within 10 days of the previous trial, counsel is entitled to claim the subsequent day fee for each day of trial for the first trial. The brief fee is payable for the first day of the retrial.

Where the retrial commences after 10 days of the previous trial, counsel is entitled to claim the fees per the applicable fee schedule for the original trial and retrial.

Solicitor

A solicitor can claim instructing fees for both trials in full, and in addition:

• if the retrial commences more than five days after the conclusion of the first trial, an additional 20 per cent of solicitor’s preparation fee for trial in Table F
• if the retrial commences more than 21 days after the conclusion of the first trial, an additional 40 per cent of the solicitor’s preparation fee for trial in Table F
• if the retrial commences more than three months after the conclusion of the first trial, the solicitor can claim the full solicitor’s preparation fee for trial in Table F again for the retrial.

Commonwealth prosecutions

The rules above relate to Commonwealth prosecutions where no Appeal Costs Certificates are available.