Fees for Crown Court and appellate court advocacy in cases in which a
Legal Aid Agency Representation Order has been granted
In accordance with general practice David Wolchover bills the Legal Aid
Agency for work defending lay clients in the Crown Court under the
Advocates Graduate Fees Scheme, and therefore no question of
negotiation of fees with clients will arise. Similarly publicly funded
advocacy in the Court of Appeal is billed directly to the appropriate
court department.
Fees for private paid work defending in Crown Courts and appellate
tribunal, for both advocacy and advice.
Crown Court trials
Fees for conducting defence cases in Crown Court trials are dependent
entirely upon weight and complexity of the case and the level of
seniority and expertise of Counsel instructed. Fees should be discussed
and negotiated via instructing solicitors. An initial conference may be
necessary to allow David Wolchover to determine the work involved and
provide a realistic estimate.
Fixed fees
For cases involving fixed fees for specific types of hearing these will
normally be negotiated in advance of receiving instructions. For
solicitors seeking to instruct David Wolchover a guide to his fees
follows but it should be strictly understood that these are guidelines
only and he will be pleased to discuss specific fees on an ad hoc
basis. An estimate of costs would be provided in advance of undertaking
any work. If it is not possible to estimate the final figure that will
be charged for a specific item of work, an indication will be given as
to the basis any fees e.g. an hourly rate, capped fees, paperwork
rates, preparatory/advocacy rates which will not be exceeded without
further discussion with the client. Any estimate given may require
further discussion with those that instruct counsel to reach agreeable
terms.
Conferences
£150 - £300 per hour
Written Advice in criminal matters
£150 - £500 per hour
Appeals against Conviction (Crown Court)
£550 – £3000 – Full day
Appeals against Sentence (Crown Court)
£300 – £750 – Half day
Committal for Sentence (Crown Court)
£300 – £700
Fees for publicly funded work defending in Magistrates’ Court, for both
advocacy and advice.
These will be negotiated in advance of receiving instructions but
negotiation will be subject to normal criteria for the assessment of
reasonable remuneration, taking into account hearing, waiting
conference and travel duration times. As in the case of privately
funded work in the Crown Court, an estimate of costs would be provided
in advance of undertaking any work. If it is not possible to estimate
the final figure that will be charged for a specific item of work, an
indication will be given as to the basis any fees e.g. an hourly rate,
capped fees, paperwork rates, preparatory/advocacy rates which will not
be exceeded without further discussion with the client. Any estimate
given may require further discussion with those that instruct counsel
to reach agreeable terms.
Fees for privately paid work defending in
Magistrates’ Court, for both advocacy and advice
These will be negotiated in advance of receiving instructions. For
solicitors seeking to instruct him a guide to his fees follows but it
should be strictly understood that these are guidelines only and he
will be pleased to discuss specific fees on an ad hoc basis. An
estimate of costs would be provided in advance of undertaking any work.
If it is not possible to estimate the final figure that will be charged
for a specific item of work, an indication will be given as to the
basis any fees e.g. an hourly rate, capped fees, paperwork rates,
preparatory/advocacy rates which will not be exceeded without further
discussion with the client. Any estimate given may require further
discussion with those that instruct counsel to reach agreeable terms.
Plea/Special Reasons or Exceptional Hardship/First Appearance
£250 – £2500
Trial in the Magistrates’ Court
£250 – £750 (half day)
£400 – £1,100 (full day)
Refreshers (From day 2 onwards)
£250 – £600
Conferences and written work
£150 - £500 per hour
VAT
VAT applies to fees charged in all cases unless an exemption applies
and evidence is provided from the client as to why VAT is not
applicable.
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