Victoria Legal Aid Handbook for Lawyers

Stage 4 – trial costs in the federal family courts

Where a lawyer appears as solicitor advocate and is in receipt of a stage 4 grant, these fees are available (where applicable) for trials in the FCFCOA in Commonwealth family law matters:

Stage 4 – Solicitor advocate’s fees

Service/proceedings Court Fee
4.1 – counsel’s fees (defended daily fee) FCFCOA $1674
4.2 – counsel’s conference (up to 3 hours at $233 per hour) FCFCOA Up to $699
4.3 – take judgment FCFCOA $233

Entitlements and conditions

  • The stage 4 grant is a lump sum grant.
  • Counsel’s fees are not payable where matter is in the list but not reached.
  • Circuit fees (where applicable) are also payable (see fee table 4.3 – counsel costs and daily circuit fees).
  • Lawyers can claim these fees using ATLAS or by submitting an invoice (where not registered for GST).
  • The fee for taking judgment is available where the appearance is required on a separate day to receive the judgment.

This fee table is effective from 1 January this year. For fees prior to this, see Archived versions of the Handbook.

Reviewed 31 December 2022