23 – Payments to lawyers and service providers

Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) pays professional costs and disbursements to private lawyers whom VLA has assigned to provide legal services for legally assisted people. A distinction is made between an item of professional costs and a disbursement.

Fees effective from 1 January this year

VLA increased all professional fees by 2 per cent effective from 1 January this year.

The fee increase covers all private practitioner fees.

The new fees apply to all existing grants of legal assistance where the matter has not been finalised, and new grants made on or after that date. All appearances and additional preparation completed prior to the changes attract the old fees.

Index

This section sets out the details of all the relevant payments:

Fees prior to 1 January this year

All appearances and additional preparation completed prior to 1 January this year attract the old fees.

For all other fees payable prior to 1 January this year, see Archived versions of the Handbook.

Updated