Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) pays professional costs and disbursements to private lawyers whom VLA has assigned to provide legal services for legally assisted people. A distinction is made between an item of professional costs and a disbursement.
Fees effective from 1 January this year
VLA increased all professional fees by 2 per cent effective from 1 January this year.
The fee increase covers all private practitioner fees.
The new fees apply to all existing grants of legal assistance where the matter has not been finalised, and new grants made on or after that date. All appearances and additional preparation completed prior to the changes attract the old fees.
Index
This section sets out the details of all the relevant payments:
- Professional costs
- Counsel's fees
- Payments to agents
- Disbursements
- Cost ceilings
- Stage of matter limits
- Lump sum fees
- Costs payable in criminal law matters
- Costs payable in Child protection matters
- Costs payable in Commonwealth family law and child support matters
- Costs payable in civil law matters
Fees prior to 1 January this year
All appearances and additional preparation completed prior to 1 January this year attract the old fees.
For all other fees payable prior to 1 January this year, see Archived versions of the Handbook.
Updated