Table A4 sets out the fees payable by Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) in Family Violence Protection Act cases in the Magistrates’ or Children’s court.
These fees are effective from 1 January this year. For fees payable prior to this see Archived versions of the Handbook.
| Service/proceeding | Fee payable |
|---|---|
| The lump sum preparation fee (covers all necessary work) | $405 |
| The lump sum preparation fee (urgent matter) applies in any matter where the request for aid is made no earlier than the day immediately preceding the substantive hearing or where the lawyer is otherwise in receipt of an urgent grant | $232 |
| Lump sum Preparation Fee for Court Ordered Cross Examination | $232 |
| Directions hearing (not normally payable in matters involving court-ordered representation) | $151 |
| Appearance fee | $405 for each day or part day |
| Contest appearance fee (payable in the event that a matter proceeds to a contested hearing by way of evidence) | $567 |
| Adjournment fee (available where matter is adjourned because the court has ordered VLA to fund cross-examination) | $405 |
Practitioners can claim these fees using ATLAS or submitting a tax invoice.
Travel
Where an advocate appears in the hearing of a Family Violence Protection Act 2008 case in the Magistrates’ or Children’s Court which is more than 40 kilometres from the advocate’s usual place of business, a travelling fee may be paid.
This fee is calculated at the rate of 80 cents per kilometre for each kilometre of the return trip in excess of 80 kilometres, and is paid as a disbursement.
Reviewed 31 December 2022