Criminal Investigations by the Insolvency Service
by Camilla Rents | Criminal Defence Generally
Old Bailey Solicitors
Fees & Funding
Private Clients
You can expect the personal attention of a senior solicitor or director of the firm throughout the life of your case. If you are concerned about the service you have received, or might receive in the police station, you will understandably want to call on the experience and expertise of a senior criminal lawyer. If you are in trouble for the first time in your life and face sentencing in the Magistrates’ Court, you will rightly want to ensure the advocacy skill that can make all the difference at this critical and stressful time of your life.
In a contested case you will value the continuity of service that comes with having a skilled lawyer take sole responsibility for your case. Typical features of our private client service include:
- An initial meeting with your lawyer, either at our offices at Old Bailey or at a location more convenient to you, to establish the key issues in your case.
- A case plan identifying the nature of the case, the key evidence, the key issues, the work to be undertaken and a timetable for preparation.
- Representation at court by the person with whom you have worked to prepare your case.
- If necessary, access to some of the best Barristers in the country. We have worked with hundreds of them over the last 20 years and can assist you with the best choice for your case.
- Regular updates as to the progress of your case and as to costs so that you are never left unsure as to your financial commitment.
Funding Your Case
At Old Bailey Solicitors we undertake both legal aid and privately funded criminal defence work. Established in 1999, Old Bailey Solicitors remain committed to providing a publicly funded service for those who cannot afford to pay for a criminal lawyer. We pride ourselves on providing a high standard of representation for all our clients.
PricingRead more
If you are paying for a premier service you are entitled to know what you will have to pay for the care your case receives. Where possible, we try to provide a fixed fee for the simpler cases. In more complex matters, it is more difficult to be certain of the work required for the case but we will still endeavour to provide you with an accurate estimate based upon the applicable hourly rate (£200 per hour for directors, £150 per hour for solicitors and legal executives). We promise to provide you with regular updates and to make sure that you do not incur costs without knowing in advance.
No two cases are ever the same and our costs will always be individually tailored to your particular case. The following is only a rough guide and all costs are subject to VAT:
Initial conference – £350 (£420 inclusive of VAT)
Attendance at a (local) police station – between £500 and £1,000 (£720 to £1,200 inclusive of VAT)
Single attendance at a (local) Magistrates’ court – £750 (£900 inclusive of VAT)
Two attendances at a (local) Magistrates’ court – guilty plea and mitigation £1,250 (£1,500 inclusive of VAT)
Guilty plea and Sentence in the Crown Court – from £1,500 (£1,800 inclusive of VAT)
Trial advocacy – fixed prices vary depending on the seriousness and complexity of the case and the level of advocate required
Speak to a member of the premier service team for a quote on your case.
Fixed Fees
Old Bailey Solicitors are happy to discuss a fixed fee with you. Our fixed fees are payable in full in advance of any work being conducted on your case and are non-refundable. If you prefer the certainty that a fixed fee brings, please contact us for a quotation.
Driving OffencesRead more
Most driving offences no longer qualify for legal aid and so, if you want to be represented by a criminal lawyer, you will need to fund your case privately. We have set out our costs for the following driving offences below:
- Drink or drug driving
- Driving whilst disqualified
- Driving without insurance
- Careless driving
- Failing to stop/ report an accident/ reveal identity of driver
- Speeding
Our costs
Old Bailey Solicitors undertake criminal defence work on either an hourly or a fixed fee basis; the choice is yours. Most of our clients enjoy the certainty that a fixed fee brings, but we are always happy to provide estimates for instructions on a time spent basis. All costs (fixed or hourly) are subject to VAT.
Guilty Plea
If you are pleading guilty to a driving offence and require representation at the Magistrates’ Court for your sentencing hearing, we would estimate spending approximately 7 hours working on your case depending on its’ complexity. This would include:
- Considering the evidence against you
- Meeting with you to provide advice in relation to court procedure, plea and likely sentence
- Advising you on the options available to the court in relation to sentencing (where it is not possible to identify the likely sentence)
- Advising you on whether exceptional hardship or special reasons arguments should be made
- Representation at a single court hearing (lasting half a day)
Not Guilty Plea
If you are pleading not guilty to a driving offence and require preparation for and representation at trial, we would estimate spending approximately 12 hours working on your case, depending on its’s complexity. This would include:
- Considering the evidence against you
- Taking your instructions
- Providing advice in relation to the strength of the evidence against you, plea and the likely sentence if convicted
- Representation at a single hearing (half day trial)
The above time estimate would not include:
- Instruction of expert witnesses
- Taking statements from defence witnesses
- Advice and assistance in relation to any special reasons or exceptional hardship hearing
- Representation at any additional hearings
- Advice and assistance in relation to any appeal
Licensing MattersRead more
The following is only a rough guide and all costs are subject to VAT:
- 1 hr licensing consultation – £300 (£360 inclusive)
- Application for, or variation of, a Premises Licence, club premises certificate – £1,000 (£1,200 inclusive) (this does not include representation at a licensing sub committee hearing).
- Preparation for and representation at a licensing sub committee hearing – £2,500 (£3,000 inclusive)
- Representation in responding to a Review Application, to include attending the Review hearing – £5,000.
- Appeal against a licensing decision to the Magistrates Court, including the appeal hearing – £5,000 (£6,000 inclusive)
- Application for a personal licence – £200 (£240 inclusive)
- Preparing and submitting written representations opposing a licensing application – £800 (£960 inclusive) (£1500 if required to attend the licensing hearing – or £1,800 inclusive).
These fees do not include relevant disbursement costs. For example, the average cost of advertising an application in a newspaper is £200-£300.
Additional disbursement fees are payable in respect of most License Applications, see further details below.
Licensing - Disbursement FeesRead more
Bands
The fee payable for applications depends upon the rateable value of the premises.
Band | A | B | C | D | E |
Non-domestic rateable value | £0 – £4,300 | £4,301 – £33,000 | £33,001 – £87,000 | £87,001 – £125,000 | £125,001 and over |
Where premises currently have no rateable value
- Greenfield site – Band A
- Construction commenced – Band C
Where premises form part of a large premises rateable value of the whole premises is applied.
Where premises form part of a site with a number of buildings the highest rateable values will be applied.
Applications for Variations, New Premises Licences and New Club Premises Certificates
Band | A | B | C | D | E |
Fee | £100 | £190 | £315 | £450 | £635 |
If premises fall within Band D or E and are used exclusively or primarily for supply of alcohol for consumption on the premises then a multiplier applies:
- Band D x 2 = £900
- Band E x 3 = £1,905
Multiplier does not apply to Club Premises Certificates
Additional Fee Based on Capacity over 5000
(For New and Variation)
Capacity | Additional fee |
5,000 – 9,999 | £1,000 |
10,000 – 14,999 | £2,000 |
15,000 – 19,999 | £4,000 |
20,000 – 29,999 | £8,000 |
30,000 – 39,999 | £16,000 |
40,000 – 49,999 | £24,000 |
50,000 – 59,999 | £32,000 |
60,000 – 69,999 | £40,000 |
70,000 – 79,999 | £48,000 |
80,000 – 89,999 | £56,000 |
90,000 + | £64,000 |
Annual Fee for Premises Licence and Club Premises Certificates
Band | A | B | C | D | E |
Fee | £70 | £180 | £295 | £320 | £350 |
Payable on anniversary of grant of the Licence or Certificate
Multiplier again applies to Band D and E (see above)
- Band D x 2 = £640
- Band E x 3 = £1,050
Plus additional fee if capacity over 5,000
Additional Annual Fee Based on Capacity over 5000
Capacity | Additional Fee |
5,000 – 9,999 | £500 |
10,000 – 14,999 | £1,000 |
15,000 – 19,999 | £2,000 |
20,000 – 29,999 | £4,000 |
30,000 – 39,999 | £8,000 |
40,000 – 49,999 | £12,000 |
50,000 – 59,999 | £16,000 |
60,000 – 69,999 | £20,000 |
70,000 – 79,999 | £24,000 |
80,000 – 89,999 | £28,000 |
90,000 + | £32,000 |
Other Fees
Theft, loss etc of Premises Licence or Summary | £10.50 | Premises |
Provisional Statement | £315.00 | |
Change of name or address (premises licence holder) | £10.50 | |
Variation of dps | £23.00 | |
Transfer: Premises licence | £23.00 | |
Interim Authority | £23.00 | |
| ||
Theft, loss etc of club premises certificate or summary | £10.50 | clubs |
Change of name or alteration of club rules | £10.50 | |
Change of registered address of club | £10.50 | |
| ||
TEN | £21.00 | TENS |
Theft, loss etc of TEN | £10.50 | |
| ||
Grant/renewal of personal licence | £37.00 | personal licence |
Theft, loss etc of personal licence | £10.50 | |
Change of name or address | £10.50 | |
| ||
Register of interest | £21.00 | Freeholder/leasehold |
Legal AidRead more
Legal Aid in the Police Station
If you are going to be interviewed by the police, whether under arrest or on a voluntary basis, you are entitled to free, independent legal advice from a criminal lawyer. Tell a police officer that you want to speak to Old Bailey Solicitors, or contact us in advance (if your interview is by appointment) and we will come to the police station for free if you are going to be interviewed or if you are being mistreated.
Legal Aid in the Magistrates Court
If you are charged with an offence and your case goes to court, you can apply for Legal Aid. If you have disposable income you may not be granted Legal Aid, but if you are on a low income or benefits you will, so long as your case is serious enough to justify it. We will help you apply for Legal Aid, and if you are not eligible, we will explain our fees for paying us yourself.
Legal Aid in the Crown Court
Legal Aid is dealt with slightly differently if your case goes to the Crown Court. If your disposable income is above a certain level you may be granted Legal Aid but with a Contribution Order, which means that the Court will require you to make monthly payments to contribute towards the cost of Legal Aid, and you may also be ordered to pay a contribution from your assets at the end of your case. Again, we will help you apply for Legal Aid. If you are not eligible or it makes more sense to pay us directly, we will explain our fees.
Talk To Us About Your Case
