Table of contents
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Table of contents
- 1 – Introduction
- 2 – Types of matters that may be assisted
- 3 – Criminal law guidelines
- 4 – Commonwealth family law and child support guidelines
- 5 – Commonwealth civil law guidelines
- 6 – State family guidelines
- 7 – State civil law guidelines
- 8 – Standard grants assessment process
- 9 – Simplified grants assessment process
- 10 – Referral and practitioner panels
- 11 – Means test
- 12 – Commonwealth merits test
- 13 – State reasonableness test and interests of justice test
- 14 – Special circumstances
- 15 – Applying for a grant of legal assistance
- 16 – Decision to grant or refuse assistance
- 17 – Reconsideration and review of decisions
- 18 – Standard terms and conditions
- 19 – Contributions and overdue payments
- 20 – Abandoning legal assistance
- 21 – Finalising grants of legal assistance
- 22 – Allocation of work to lawyers and law firms
- 23 – Payments to lawyers and service providers
- 24 – Compliance reviews
- 25 – Privacy protection
- 26 – Complaints and feedback
- Topic index
- Invoices, worksheets and forms
- Contact us
Counsel’s fees – trial costs
Counsel’s fees are only payable at Stages 4 and 5, otherwise counsel’s fees are to be paid out of the lump sum. Circuit fees (where applicable) pursuant to Fee Schedule 3 are also payable. Counsel’s fees are not payable where matter is in the list but not reached.
These fees are effective from 1 October 2011. For fees payable in matters prior to 1 October 2011, see Costs payable in Commonwealth family law matters in the VLA Handbook (September 2011).
Stage 4
The table below shows the lump sum payable to counsel for trial costs in the Family Court and the Federal Magistrates Court.
| Service/proceedings | Section 30 panel lump sum | Section 29A panel lump sum |
|---|---|---|
| Conference (3 hours maximum | $192 per hour | $192 per hour |
| Daily fee | $1358 | $1358 |
| Take judgment | $192 | $192 |
These fees are claimed using either:
- Section 29A panel firm: Stage 4 Trial costs in the Family and Federal Magistrates courts tax invoice
- Section 30 panel firm: Stage 4 Trial costs in the Family and Federal Magistrates courts tax invoice.
Stage 5
The table below shows the lump sum payable to counsel for appeals in the Family Court.
| Service/proceedings | Section 30 panel lump sum | Section 29A panel lump sum |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation for appeal to a single judge | $1932 | $2040 |
| Preparation for appeal to Full Court | $1610 | $1700 |
| Daily fee – appeal to single judge | $1056 | $1056 |
| Conference (1 hour) | $192 | $192 |
| Daily fee – appeal to full court | $1358 | $1358 |
| Conference (1 hour) | $192 | $192 |
These fees are claimed using either: