Canberra · Fees and cost
What does a criminal lawyer cost in Canberra?
Cost is the question most people are afraid to ask first. It should be the first thing answered. Here is how criminal defence fees work in the ACT, what drives them, and how this practice charges.
- First conversationNo cost to askThe realistic figure, up front
- Common structureFixed-fee scopesFor defined stages of work
- Serious mattersQuoted on the briefTrials and complex briefs
- Legal AidACT grants existMeans and merit tested
The honest answer.
There is no single price for a criminal matter, because a guilty plea to a summary charge and a contested Supreme Court trial are not the same job. What can be promised is this: the realistic figure is given on the first call, before any retainer is opened, and it is put in a written costs agreement so there are no surprises.
Across the profession, criminal lawyers charge either a fixed fee for a defined piece of work or an hourly rate, and often a mix. Hourly rates for experienced criminal practitioners commonly sit in the several hundred dollars per hour range. Fixed fees for a short, defined matter such as a plea or a one-day hearing are usually in the low thousands. Serious matters and trials are quoted on the brief. These are general market figures, not a quote; your matter is quoted on its own facts.
What drives the cost of a criminal matter.
The price of a matter follows the work it takes, and the work follows a few things:
- The charge and its seriousness. A summary matter in the Magistrates Court takes less work than an indictable matter tried in the Supreme Court.
- Whether the matter is a plea or is defended. A defended hearing or a trial requires preparation, witnesses, and often counsel.
- The size of the brief of evidence. A brief with hours of body-worn video, telecommunications data and expert reports takes longer to read and test.
- Whether counsel is briefed. Serious trials are often run with senior or junior counsel, whose fees are separate.
- The court and the number of appearances. Bail, committal, mentions, hearing and trial are separate stages.
Fixed fees and what they cover.
For defined stages, a fixed-fee scope tells you the price before the work starts. A scope typically covers reading the brief and correspondence, a client conference, preparing the materials for the stage, the court appearance, and a written report of the outcome. It does not usually cover counsel's fees, expert reports, subpoena and transcript costs, or disbursements. Those are told to you as they arise.
Fixed fees are given where the work can be defined. A trial cannot always be fixed in advance, because its length depends on the Crown case, so serious matters are quoted on the brief and reviewed as the matter develops.
Legal Aid in the ACT.
Legal Aid ACT funds representation for people who meet a means test and a merit test. It is not automatic, and for many matters a contribution is required. If you may be eligible, that is worth checking early. This practice can tell you whether Legal Aid is the right path for your matter, or point you to Legal Aid ACT directly.
Why paying for the right lawyer early is the cheaper course.
The most expensive thing in a criminal matter is usually a step taken without advice: a police interview that should not have happened, an early plea to the wrong charge, or a bail application run without preparation. Good advice at the start narrows the matter and often reduces the total cost, even where the hourly figure looks higher. The first call is the place to work out what your matter really needs.
Frequently asked.
How much does a criminal lawyer cost in Canberra?
It depends on the charge and whether the matter is a plea or is defended. Fixed fees for a short, defined matter are usually in the low thousands, hourly rates for experienced criminal lawyers commonly run to several hundred dollars an hour, and serious matters and trials are quoted on the brief. The realistic figure for your matter is given on the first call.
Do you offer fixed fees?
Yes, for defined stages of work such as a plea or a one-day hearing. The scope tells you what is and is not included, and it is set out in a written costs agreement before any work starts.
What is not included in a fixed fee?
Usually counsel's fees, expert reports, subpoena and transcript costs, and disbursements such as filing fees and travel. These are told to you as they arise rather than hidden in the headline figure.
Can I get Legal Aid for a criminal matter in the ACT?
Possibly. Legal Aid ACT funds representation for people who meet a means test and a merit test, often with a contribution. Whether it applies depends on your circumstances and the matter. It is worth checking early.
Will I know the cost before I commit?
Yes. The realistic figure is given before any retainer is opened, and it is confirmed in a written costs agreement. Where a matter is out of the ordinary, that is said on the first call.
Want the honest number for your matter?
Call for a confidential first conversation. The realistic cost is set out before any retainer is opened.
Request a confidential consult 0421 717 019