Victoria Legal Aid Handbook for Lawyers

The following fees apply to private practitioners who participate in Victoria Legal Aid's (VLA's) Duty Lawyer Schemes.

Children’s Court matters – Melbourne Children’s Court and Moorabbin Justice Centre

$175 an hour – up to a maximum of five hours per day.

Where a duty lawyer is allocated one matter only, the fee claimable shall not exceed $438.

The period shall run from when the solicitor is first allocated a matter until completion of all allocated matters. The calculation of time spent on allocated matters does not include time spent on privately or VLA funded matters and breaks.

Private Practitioner Duty Lawyer Scheme (Rostered) – Magistrates' Courts

$175 an hour – up to a maximum of six hours.

The period shall run from when the solicitor is first required to attend court until the solicitor leaves the court. The calculation of time spent at court does not include the luncheon adjournment.

Private Practitioner Conflict Scheme

$175 an hour – up to a maximum of three hours if only one matter has been allocated, or otherwise up to a maximum of six hours.

The period shall run from when the solicitor is first allocated a matter until completion of all allocated matters. The calculation of time spent on allocated matters does not include time spent on privately or VLA funded matters and breaks.

Reviewed 31 December 2023

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