Fees and Payment

Where appropriate, JFH Crime will endeavour to provide assistance or advice without charging fees for the services of our criminal lawyers. However, when payment is necessary, we will provide a transparent quote tailored to your budget.

• Everyone who is arrested by the police is entitled to free advice and assistance whilst they are detained at the police station, regardless of their financial situation.
• On arrival at the police station, you will be asked if you want a solicitor. If you ask for JFH Crime, we will arrange for one of our lawyers to come and represent you.
• If you have been asked to attend the police station by appointment, for example for an interview under caution (also called a caution +3 interview) we will arrange to come with you.
• Where appropriate, we will provide continued advice and assistance without charging the fees for criminal lawyer’s services whilst the police consider whether you will be charged for an offence.

• Some of our clients require more assistance and support, and choose to pay privately for our attendance at the police station and for our advice pending any criminal charge.
• Our solicitors and barristers are able to provide practical advice and support during this difficult time. If appropriate, we can make written representations to the police on your behalf.
• Our fees for criminal lawyers range from £150 to £300 (excluding VAT) depending on their experience.

• Legal aid is available for some Magistrate Court cases, however it is subject to a ‘merits’ test and a ‘means’ test.
• The ‘merits’ test looks at the nature of the case and decides whether it is appropriate for that case to be paid for from the public purse.
• The ‘means’ test considers your financial situation, and that of your husband/wife/partner. In the Magistrates Court, if you fail the ‘means’ test you are not eligible for legal aid.
• In the Crown Court, almost everyone is financially eligible, but you can be ordered to pay a contribution towards your legal costs, either during the case from your income or at the end of the case from your capital.

• Many of our clients prefer to instruct us on a private paying basis, so that they have more control over the way their case is managed and are free from the limitations imposed by publicly funded cases.
• We are able to provide you with a clear estimate of costs and can tailor the preparation of your case according to your budget.

John Howey oversees all our motoring offences, assisted by other members of staff and where appropriate external Counsel.

Legal aid is not available for many driving offences. Where legal aid is not available, we can offer hourly rates, or in many circumstances we can agree a fixed fee at the outset.

The hourly fees for our criminal lawyers vary, depending on their experience. A junior solicitor is charged at £175 per hour plus VAT and a partner is charged at £300 per hour plus VAT.

The total cost of your case will depend on a number of factors. These include, but are not limited to:

• the nature and complexity of the case
• the location of the court and the length of the hearing
• how many witnesses there are and what the issues in the case are
• whether there is expert evidence or not. If you need to instruct an expert, you will be responsible for their fees

Every case is different, so it is very difficult to give an accurate estimate of the costs of your case without knowing anything about it. However, as a guide:

• a straightforward guilty plea and mitigation: Junior solicitor £500-£750 plus VAT, Partner £750-£1,000 plus VAT
• a two-hour trial: Junior solicitor £750-£1,000 plus VAT, Partner £1,000-£1,500 plus VAT
• a ½ day trial: Junior solicitor £1,000-£1,500 plus VAT, Partner £1,500-£2,250 plus VAT
• a full day trial: Junior solicitor £1,500-£2,000 plus VAT, Partner £2,250-£3,000 plus VAT

As well as the nature of the case, the location of the court can affect the cost.

A fixed fee includes the following:

• Meeting with you to take your instructions
• Obtaining and considering the prosecution statements
• Taking statements from witnesses
• Advising you on the law, your prospects of success and the court procedure
• Attending court on the day of your trial

If there are further hearings, in addition to the scheduled date for your trial, there will be additional costs.

Do you have more questions about our fees for criminal lawyers?

If you have any questions or queries about the fees for criminal lawyers at JFH Crime outlined above, we’ll be happy to answer them. Simply get in touch with a member of our team today.