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Changes to whole of job fees
Date : 10 Jun 2011
The Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) Board this week decided to remove the ‘whole of job’ fees in bail applications and County Court appeals against sentence following feedback from lawyers working on these cases. From 1 July 2011, the old fee scale will apply, but these fees will be increased by nine per cent in line with the increase for summary crime fees that was applied in January 2011.
As part of major changes to criminal law fees, VLA introduced a ‘whole of job’ fee in bail applications and County Court appeals against sentence in January 2011. The ‘whole of job’ fee for bail included increased fees for applications in indictable cases and where the accused had to show 'exceptional circumstances'.
VLA lawyers, private practitioners and barristers have experienced problems with these ‘whole of job’ fees where cases are adjourned through no fault of the defence and the judge or magistrate will not issue an appeal costs certificate.
VLA is committed to continuing to work with the private profession and the Bar on an agreed simplified fee structure and to advocate for improvements to the criminal justice system to avoid unnecessary adjournments and delays.