Criminal Motor Defence Fees

Personnel / Supervision

All people advising on client matters will be supervised by a partner or other senior lawyer. The supervisor will discuss and agree the strategy for every matter with all lawyer(s) working on a matter.

Each client will be advised at the start of a matter of the name of the lawyer with day to day conduct of the matter, and their supervisor in their letter of engagement which is sent out at the beginning of our instruction.

Type of Claim

The below rates and estimates apply to matters on which we are instructed to represent individuals prosecuted for summary only driving offences in the Magistrates’ Court to be concluded in one hearing. 

Typical offences falling into this category include:

• Driving/In charge with excess alcohol
• Speeding
• Use of a mobile phone whilst driving
• Driving Without Due Care and Attention (Careless Driving)
• Failing to Stop/Report
• Construction and Use offences
• Endorsable offences leading to totting-up disqualification and exceptional hardship / special reasons applications
• Tachograph offences

Associated Pricing

ESTIMATES OF FEES

Magistrates' Court Hearings

We estimate that our fees for an uncontested, relatively straightforward hearing in the Magistrates' Court would be in the region of £1,500.00 plus VAT and any disbursements, such as expert or counsel fees. 

We estimate that our fees for a contested trial at the Magistrates' Court would be in the region of £5,000.00 plus VAT and any disbursements, such as expert or counsel fees. 

Crown Court Hearings

Our fees for a Crown Court proceedings could range from £10,000.00 plus VAT for a sentencing hearing (including any hearings at the Magistrates' Court) up to £20,000.00 plus VAT for a contested Crown Court trial. Additional disbursements may include Counsel and expert fees.

Inquests

Our costs for representing you at an inquest could range from £5,000.00 to £10,000.00 plus VAT. This will include all preparation work as well as attendance at all Pre-Inquest Reviews and at the inquest itself. Additional disbursements may include Counsel and expert fees.

Service information

The estimate would include:

• Initial meeting with you to obtain the factual background and any relevant detail
• Considering evidence
• Providing advice in relation to plea and likely sentence
• Advice on the options available to the court in relation to sentencing
• Where appropriate, advice on whether an exceptional hardship, or special reasons argument should be made
• Representation at a single hearing at the Magistrates' Court

The fee estimate does not include:

• instruction of any expert witnesses
• taking statements from any witnesses
• advice and assistance in relation to a special reasons hearing
• advice or assistance in relation to any appeal

We set out below an overview of the key stages of your matter, which are based on the presumption that you have entered a guilty plea and have a date for your hearing:

We would have an initial meeting with you to obtain instructions on the background to the matter.

We will consider initial disclosure we require from you, and any other evidence to defend you and provide advice to you on merits, and process.

We would arrange to take any witness statements if necessary (this will have an additional cost, based on the above hourly rates dependent upon the amount of work required).

We will explain the court procedure to you so you know what to expect on the day of your hearing, and the sentencing options available to the court.

We will conduct any further preparatory work, obtain further instructions from you if necessary and answer any follow up queries you have.

We cannot provide a timescale of when your hearing will take place, as this depends on the court listing for that day. On average, instructions relating to the above offences would typically take 3 months from initial instruction to a court hearing, subject to court availability.

We will attend court on the day and meet with you before going before the court.

We will discuss the outcome with you. If advice is required on appeal, this will carry an additional cost.

Additional disbursements may include Counsel's fees, expert's fees, Court fees and copying charges. These costs are dependent upon seniority of Counsel, type of expert and the amount of work required, and can range from £250 to more than £10,000 (plus VAT at 20%). Further information can be provided on a case by case basis.