Criminal Fixed Fees

Criminal Fixed Fees

We can provide fixed fees quotes in appropriate cases for hearings in the Magistrates court or Crown Court.

The fixed fees quotes below will apply in most cases but we reserve the right to vary these charges if your matter, for example, becomes protracted, there are unforeseen issues that are raised or the matter becomes complex.

However, if your case is complex from the outset, we will provide a detailed estimate of your likely costs at our hourly rates.

Can you recover your costs?

Defendant’s Costs Order Defendant’s Costs Orders are a mechanism for a defendant/appellant to recover some or all of their legal costs. Legal costs are defined as fees, charges, disbursements and other amounts payable in respect of advocacy or litigation services including, in particular, expert witness costs. These costs, however, will be reimbursed at legal aid rates details of which can be provided upon request. These can also be obtained on the Ministry of Justice website here. This means that there is often a shortfall between what you recover and what is owed to your legal representatives and this would have to be made up by you.

Defendant’s Costs Orders are only available in the following circumstances:

Magistrates’ Court Proceedings

In simple terms, the legislation provides that non-legally aided privately paying clients in the magistrates' court will be entitled to recover their legal costs under a Defendant's Costs Order if they are acquitted, but the amount will be limited to the amount that would be payable under specified legal aid rates.

Crown Court Proceedings

An acquitted (or otherwise successful) Crown Court defendant who has paid for legal services may recover their legal costs, limited to the amount that would be payable under specified legal aid rates provided that they applied for, and were determined ineligible for, legal aid.