Table RR – Counsel’s circuit fees

Table RR sets out the circuit fees payable to counsel for appearances in criminal trials in the Supreme Court or in the County Court of the gazetted circuit towns. The circuit fees which apply to pleas are contained in Table NN.

These fees are effective from 1 January this year. For fees payable prior to this see Archived versions of the Handbook.

Each circuit fee in Table RR applies to each five days, or part of each five days, of a trial. If the trial lasts longer than five sitting days, then an additional circuit fee is payable.

If a trial is interrupted by a weekend or by some other cause, then the circuit fee is payable only for each five sitting days of the court.

If counsel or a lawyer advocate appears in a number of matters during any five-day period, then one circuit fee only is payable. Counsel or the lawyer advocate must share that one circuit fee equally between or among each of the matters.

If counsel or a lawyer advocate must stay overnight in the circuit town, then the overnight fee in Table NN is also payable for:

  • accommodation
  • meals
  • sundry expenses.
Gazetted circuit townCircuit/appearance fee for each 5-day period or part of trial
Ararat$749
Bairnsdale$1125
Ballarat$373
Bendigo$562
Colac$562
Geelong$187
Hamilton$1125
Horsham$1220
Kerang$1125
Korumburra$373
Mildura$1450
Morwell$562
Sale$843
Shepparton$656
Wangaratta$939
Warragul$373
Warrnambool$1032
Wodonga$1220

Practitioners can claim these fees using ATLAS or submitting a tax invoice.

Updated