Fee increase from 1 August 2024

LAQ is pleased to advise that from 1 August 2024, Legal Aid Queensland (LAQ) will increase fees paid to solicitors, barristers and other service providers in State and Commonwealth law matters.

We understand that increasing costs are impacting our partners and we are committed to increasing the fees we pay to providers when it is financially possible to do so.

This fee increase has been made possible thanks to specific additional funding provided to LAQ in the 2024-25 Queensland Budget and the 2024-25 Federal Budget.

The fee increases are as follows:

  • All hourly rates for solicitors in State and Commonwealth law matters will be paid at $150 an hour.
  • The hourly rate for counsel has also been increased by approximately 4.9 percent for State law matters and 6.8 percent for Commonwealth law matters.
  • Fixed fees or event fees for solicitors and barristers (conferences, mentions, preparation, etc.) have also increased for State and Commonwealth law matters.
  • Disbursements for items such as reports, giving evidence, service, travel, and accommodation have also increased by 4.9 percent and apply across State and Commonwealth matters.
  • Fees payable to counsel to prepare for Commonwealth family law trials have increased from 6 hours to 12 hours.
  • Fees payable to expert report writers in Commonwealth family law matters have also increased by more than 28 percent to align with the fees payable in State child protection matters.

Increased fees will be applied where the request for legal aid is approved on or after 1 August 2024. The fee increases do not apply retrospectively, and any grants issued prior to 1 August 2024 will be paid at the rate that applied when the grant was issued.

Lawyers in private practice play a vital role in delivering legal services to financially disadvantaged people across the state and without their ongoing support, LAQ would be unable to adequately service the legal needs of our clients. Thank you for partnering with us to help meet legal need in Queensland.

Full details of the increases are published in the Grants Handbook – Scale of Fees and are available online from 1 August 2024.