We price criminal matters by the stage, not by the hour. You know the cost of each step before it starts, and you can get a written quote at no charge.
Fixed fees for each stage
Most criminal matters move through recognisable stages: the first mentions, obtaining and testing the brief, negotiation, and then a plea, a contested hearing or a committal. We quote a fixed fee for each stage, so you can weigh the cost of every option, such as resolving early or contesting, against what is at stake for you: your licence, your job, your record or your liberty.
We do not run open-ended hourly bills. On the rare occasion part of a matter cannot sensibly be fixed in advance, we tell you before that work starts and give you an estimate in writing.
Free written quotes
Send us the main documents in your matter and we will give you a written fixed-fee quote for the next stage, free of charge. The documents we need are:
- the charge sheet (or the summons or notice to appear)
- the police summary or preliminary brief, if you have received one
- any court notice showing the court and your next date
- your prior record or driving history, if you have one
- for intervention orders, the application and any interim order served on you
Email them to enquiries@melbournecriminaldefencelawyers.com.au or use the form on our contact page. A quote is our price for the work. It is not advice about your case; for that, book a consultation.
Consultations
A consultation is a confidential advice session with a lawyer, held online by video (Google Meet). Consultations are online only. We review your documents beforehand, explain the charges and the evidence, and give you our view of your options and the realistic outcomes.
- Indictable offences: $660 (inc. GST) for 60 minutes
- Summary offences and intervention orders: $330 (inc. GST) for 30 minutes
Consultation fees are paid on the day of the consultation. To arrange one, use the enquiry form on our contact page or email enquiries@melbournecriminaldefencelawyers.com.au; we reply with available times and payment details. We do not give free advice by phone or email.
How we price a stage
- The seriousness of the charge and the penalties the court can impose.
- The court the matter will be heard in, and how many appearances are likely.
- The work involved: the size of the brief, disclosure requests, expert reports, character material and negotiations.
- The barrister the case calls for. More serious matters warrant more experienced counsel, and their fee is part of your quote.
Typical stages we quote for
- Diversion applications
- Plea of guilty and sentence in the Magistrates’ Court
- Contested hearings in the Magistrates’ Court
- Bail applications and variations
- Intervention order responses
- Committal, County Court and Supreme Court matters (quoted stage by stage)
- Appeals
We do not publish set prices, because the right fee depends on your charges and your documents. Ask for a quote and you will have the figure in writing.
What is included
Your quote covers our professional fees and counsel’s fee for the stage quoted, including your barrister’s attendance with you for the whole day at court. Disbursements such as expert reports, transcripts or interpreters are listed separately in advance, so there are no surprises.
Your written costs disclosure
Before we act, you will receive a costs agreement and the costs disclosure required by the Legal Profession Uniform Law. It sets out the fixed fee, what it covers, and your rights. If the scope of the matter changes, for example a plea becomes a contest, we will quote the new stage before doing that work.
Legal aid
Legal aid is means-tested and, for most Magistrates’ Court charges, generally limited to cases where imprisonment is likely. Most of our clients are not eligible, which is why we keep our pricing fixed and transparent. If you think you may qualify, Victoria Legal Aid or a community legal centre can tell you.