Fees

Funding & Fees 
As part of our professional rules, we aim to ensure that anyone wishing to use our services has the information they need to make an informed choice of legal services provider, including understanding what the costs may be. 

Legal Aid

Richard Haswell Solicitors currently hold a government Legal Aid Agency contract which allows us to undertake criminal legal aid work. For the majority of offences, we can submit an application for a legal aid Representation Order on your behalf. However, this is subject to you qualifying and meeting certain eligibility criteria.

If you would like any further information regarding criminal legal aid, or you would like to discuss whether you would qualify, please do not hesitate to contact our office in Newcastle upon Tyne. We cater to clients across North East England.

Road Traffic and Driving Offences

Road Traffic Offences are not typically covered by Legal Aid. We offer the following fixed fee for motoring offences:

Magistrates Court - Summary Only - Guilty Plea

Fixed Fee: From £300 + vat (£60 vat) Total: £360

What is included?

• Attendance and/or preparation;
• Considering evidence;
• Taking your instructions;
• Providing advice on likely sentence;
• Attendance and representation at a single hearing at the Magistrates Court.

What is not included?

• Instruction of any expert witnesses;
• Taking statements from any witnesses;
• Advice and assistance in relation to a Special Reasons hearing or Exceptional Hardship
• Advice or assistance in relation to any appeal.

Key Stages Involved 

The key stages of your matter are based on the presumption that you have entered a guilty plea and have a date for your hearing. They typically include:

• Meet with your you to provide instructions on what happened;
• Consider initial disclosure, and any other evidence and provide advice;
• Arranging to take any witness statements, if necessary (this will have an additional cost). 
• 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;
• Conduct any further preparatory work, obtain further instructions from you, if necessary, and answer any follow up queries you have;
• Attend court on the day, meet with you before going before the court. We anticipate being at court for [e.g. half a day].
• Discuss the outcome with you. If advice is required on appeal, this will carry an additional cost.

Hourly rate matters

If you wish to instruct us on an hourly rate basis, our fee rates are £168 per hour (plus £37.60 vat). The overall cost of representing you will depend on a number of factors including who deals with your matter, the complexities of the matter, time estimates and location. This would not be inclusive of travel, mileage or disbursements, which may include expert reports. We would need to assess your case before we are able to give a more accurate time and cost estimate.

Expert witnesses

Not all matters will require the preparation of an expert report. However, where this is required, we will advise on the choice of a suitably-qualified expert and obtain a quotation. Typically, experts may be called to conduct alcohol back calculations, lung function tests and drug calculations, for example. 

Expert fees will be charged additional to our fees referred to earlier. We expect client to make a payment on account in advance of us instructing an expert. These reports can vary widely in cost and typically range between £200 (plus £40 vat) to £2,000 (plus £400 vat).

Please note we cannot provide a timescale of when your hearing will take place, as this depends on the court listing for that day. 

Private Cases

Should your case not be suitable for a fixed fee, we can provide you with a more detailed breakdown of our hourly rates. 
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