Table F(i) – Lump sum and other fees for serious indictable crime matters in the Children’s Court

Table F(i) sets out the fees payable by Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) for all indictable crime matters in the Children’s Court including indictable stream matters up to contested committal stage, charges subject to mandatory or presumed uplift to the County Court and charges against a child which could not be heard in the Magistrates’ Court if an adult had been charged (for example, a charge of rape).

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

Where a matter resolves as a plea at contest mention, the contest mention fee and appearance fee are payable.

Service/proceedingHoursFee payable
The lump sum preparation fee.
Note: The lump sum preparation fee covers all necessary work.		n/a$719
Brief analysis and case strategy fee4$712

Appearance committal mention

VLA will pay for subsequent committal mention only if, either:

  • the lawyer has applied (if appropriate) for an Appeal Costs Certificate
  • the lawyer satisfies VLA that substantial negotiation took place.
2.5$445
Ground rules hearing (daily appearance fee)n/a$484

Contest mention
VLA will pay this appearance fee only if all of the following apply:

  • On the available evidence, the assisted person had a reasonable prospect of acquittal on all or some of the charges and, considering the likely penalty, that charge or those charges would have qualified for a grant of assistance.
  • Before the contest mention date, the lawyer has discussed with the prosecution the possibility of a negotiated plea.
  • If that discussion did not resolve the matter, then the lawyer attended the contest mention before a magistrate to:
    • try to narrow the issues between the parties to issues of genuine dispute
    • identify the witnesses needed for the hearing of the matter
    • identify the matters to be admitted between the parties
    • re-examine the possibility of a negotiated plea.

The lawyer does not have to seek advance approval from VLA for the contest mention fee.

n/a$356
Appearance feen/a$1214 for each day or part day
Application for summary jurisdiction (Children’s Court only)5$890
Group conference held during work hours3$534
Group conference held after work hours4$712
Youth Support and Supervision or Youth Control Order planning meetingn/a$358
Youth Support and Supervision or Youth Control Order reporting and monitoring hearing, including variation to a less restrictive order (Children’s Court only)n/a$185
Youth Support and Supervision or Youth Control Order reporting and monitoring hearing to oppose a variation to a significantly more restrictive order (Children’s Court only)n/a$318
Breach or Revocation of a Youth Support and Supervision or Youth Control Order (Children’s Court only)n/a$484
Sentence (if on a different day)n/a$358
Transcribing of taped record of interview, if necessaryn/a$99 per tape

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

Practitioners

Updated

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