Grants Handbook – Scale of Fees

From 1 September 2023, Legal Aid Queensland (LAQ) will increase fees paid to solicitors and barristers representing legally assisted clients in state law matters.

All hourly rates for solicitors in state law matters will be paid at $143 an hour. Fixed fees or event fees for solicitors and barristers (conferences, mentions, preparation, etc.) have also increased for state law matters. Disbursements for items such as reports, giving evidence, service, travel, and accommodation have also increased and apply across State and Commonwealth matters.

Increased fees will be applied where the request for legal aid is approved on or after 1 September 2023. The fee increases do not apply retrospectively, and any grants issued prior to 1 September 2023 will be paid at the rate that applied when the grant was issued.

Full details of the increases are published in the Grants Handbook – Scale of Fees and available on-line from 1 September 2023.

LAQ is committed to increasing the fees paid to providers when it is financially possible to do so. This fee increase has been made possible thanks to specific additional funding provided by the Queensland Government to LAQ in the 2023-24 State Budget for the purpose of increasing fees. All of the available funds have been applied to support this increase.

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 fully meet the legal needs of its clients.

LAQ continues to review the structure of grants responses in a range of areas having recently implemented revised structures for dangerous prisoner and domestic violence matters.

If you have any queries regarding the new fees, please contact your Grants team direct.