Costs and fees – Criminal Law

Our charges are based on an hourly rate for the time spent on the matter. However, for a single hearing Magistrates case we are able to provide you with a fixed fee, giving you certainty on what your legal fees will be.

Our fees start at £500 (plus VAT of £100) for a single Magistrate Court hearing at our local Magistrates Court at Telford involving a less complex area of law (e.g. using a vehicle with no seatbelt or driving whilst on a mobile phone) up to a maximum of £3000 (plus VAT of £600) for a matter which is more complicated and involves a greater consequence for you (e.g. a high-level reading drink drive or drug drive matter which could carry an immediate prison sentence).

Our fee for representation for a low-level drink drive/ drug drive case listed in our local Magistrates Court in Telford would on average be £650 (plus VAT of £130).

Travel expenses are claimed at 45p per mile. It is a 32-mile round trip to Telford Court from our offices.  Parking fees are usually £5 at Telford Magistrates Court.

Factors Which Make the Case More Complex

Some cases are more complex than others. Courts deal with each case on a case by case basis.

For example – If you have a case involving a high-level reading of alcohol this is treated more seriously by the Courts than a reading which is only just over the legal limit. Are there any aggravating factors to your case making it more complex? Such examples could be: have you committed this offence or a similar offence in the past? Are there any other offences committed at the same time such as was your car uninsured when you committed a drink drive offence? Were you involved in an accident? Was someone injured in that accident?

The fees indicated above do not include instructing an expert witness (if such an expert was required), the taking of statements from witnesses, advice or assistance in relation to any appeal proceedings of advice and assistance in relation to any special reasons or other contested Court hearing.