Table E – Lump sum fees for Magistrates’ Court stage of an indictable crime matter

Table E – Lump sum fees for Magistrates’ Court stage of an indictable crime matter

Table E sets out the fees payable by Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) for indictable cases proceeding through the committal stream.

These fees are effective from 12 January 2015. For fees payable prior to this see Archived versions of the Handbook.

Service/proceeding Hours Fee payable
The lump sum general preparation fee covers the work involved in:
  • obtaining instructions
  • advising about defence
  • negotiating with the prosecution
  • perusing the hand-up brief
  • preparing the Form 32 (Case Directions Notice).
 4 $580

Brief analysis and case strategy fee
 

 4 $580
Additional preparation (contested committal/negotiations):
  • payable where a contested committal is aided
  • includes preparing the Form 32 (Case Directions Notice).
 5 $725
Appearance committal mention/case conference/summary jurisdiction application/application for leave to cross-examine witnesses
VLA will pay for subsequent committal mention only if, either:
  • the lawyer has applied (if appropriate) for an Appeal Costs Certificate
  • the lawyer satisfies VLA that substantial negotiation took place.
 2.5 $362
Special mention 1 $145
Appearance on contested committal: day 1
Where a plea is heard at committal no additional fee is payable		 – $1029
Appearance on contested committal: day 2
Where a plea is heard at committal no additional fee is payable		 – $928
Jail conference
Plea fee except where a plea on day of committal contest		 – $150
Committal which resolves as a plea in the Magistrates’ Court, and which is heard on a day other than the committal contest (this can be the same day as the committal mention) – $433

Practitioners can claim these fees using ATLAS or submitting a tax invoice.

Printing of depositions from disk if:

  • printing is necessary and
  • there are more than 2000 pages to print.

VLA will only pay for pages in excess of 2000 at the rate of 11 cents per page or at commercial rates, whichever is less. The lawyer must obtain approval in advance from VLA.