Table ZZ – Hourly rates for counsel’s preparation fees and conferences in indictable criminal trials
Table ZZ – Hourly rates for counsel’s preparation fees and conferences in indictable criminal trials
Table ZZ sets out the hourly rates to be used in the calculation of the preparation fees, conference fees and fees payable to counsel and instructors in criminal trials. Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) pays preparation fees to trial counsel only. No preparation fees are available for junior or co-counsel.
These fees are effective from 1 January this year. For fees payable prior to this see Archived versions of the Handbook.
| Counsel/instructor | Magistrates’, Children’s and Coroner’s courts | County Court | Supreme and High courts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Counsel | $394 per hour | $394 per hour | $394 per hour |
| Counsel | $162 per hour | $216 per hour | $294 per hour |
| Solicitor | $162 per hour | $170 per hour | $270 per hour |
Practitioners can claim these fees using ATLAS or submitting a tax invoice.