New Costs Scale to be Implemented from 2009

On 1 January 2009, the Practitioner Remuneration Order and Statutory Scales of Costs will increase in the Supreme Court of Victoria, County Court of Victoria, and Magistrates' Court of Victoria.

This year's increase is above the current rate of inflation.

Solicitors' charges will increase by 4.03%, witnesses' expenses and interpreters' fees by 3.5% and barristers' fees by 4.2%.

These changes will affect the fees payable by clients whose charges are referable to the practitioner remuneration order or scale.

The changes will also affect the amounts payable by unsuccessful litigants to the successfull party.

The legislation can be viewed at:

• Practitioner Remuneration Order - 2009 (pdf document)
• Supreme Court (Chapter 1 Amendment No. 13) Rules 2008 No. 151 (pdf document)
• County Court (Chapter I Amendment No. 25) Rules 2008 No. 147 (pdf document)
• Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 24) Rules (pdf document)