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Previous guideline rates

Guide to the Summary Assessment of Costs 2007

Solicitor’s hourly rates

The guideline rates for solicitors provided here are broad approximations only. In any particular area the Designated Civil Judge may supply more exact guidelines for rates in that area. Also the costs estimate provided by the paying party may give further guidance if the solicitors for both parties are based in the same locality.

The following diagram shows guideline figures for each of three bands outside the London area, and a further three bands within the London area with a statement of the localities included in each band. In each band there are four columns specifying figures for different grades of fee earner.

Localities

The guideline figures have been grouped according to locality by way of general guidance only. Although many firms may be comparable with others in the same locality, some of them will not be. For example, a firm located in the City of London which specialises in fast track personal injury claims may not be comparable with other firms in that locality and vice versa.

In any particular case the hourly rate it is reasonable to allow should be determined by reference to the rates charged by comparable firms. For this purpose the costs estimate supplied by the paying party may be of assistance The rate to allow should not be determined by reference to locality or postcode alone.

Grades of fee earner

The grades of fee earner have been agreed between representatives of the Supreme Court Costs Office, the Association of District Judges and the Law Society. The categories are as follows:

1. Solicitors with over eight years post qualification experience including at least eight years litigation experience.
2. Solicitors and legal executives with over four years post qualification experience including at least four years litigation experience.
3. Other solicitors and legal executives and fee earners of equivalent experience.
4. Trainee solicitors, para legals and other fee earners.

"Legal Executive" means a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives. Those who are not Fellows of the Institute are not entitled to call themselves legal executives and in principle are therefore not entitled to the same hourly rate as a legal executive.

Unqualified clerks who are fee earners of equivalent experience may be entitled to similar rates and in this regard it should be borne in mind that Fellows of the Institute of Legal Executives generally spend two years in a solicitor’s office before passing their Part 1 general examinations, spend a further two years before passing the Part 2 specialist examinations and then complete a further two years in practice before being able to become Fellows. Fellows have therefore possess considerable practical experience and academic achievement. Clerks without the equivalent experience of legal executives will be treated as being in the bottom grade of fee earner ie. trainee solicitors and fee earners of equivalent experience. Whether or not a fee earner has equivalent experience is ultimately a matter for the discretion of the court.

Rates to allow for senior fee earners

Many High Court cases justify fee earners at a senior level. However the same may not be true of attendance at pre-trial hearings with counsel. The task of sitting behind counsel should be delegated to a more junior fee earner in all but the most important pre-trial hearings. The fact that the receiving party insisted upon the senior’s attendance, or the fact that the fee earner is a sole practitioner who has no juniors to delegate to, should not be the determinative factors. As with hourly rates the costs estimate supplied by the paying party may be of assistance. What grade of fee earner did they use?

An hourly rate in excess of the guideline figures may be appropriate for Grade A fee earners in substantial and complex litigation where other factors, including the value of the litigation, the level of complexity, the urgency or importance of the matter as well as any international element would justify a significantly higher rate to reflect higher average costs.

Guideline Rates for Summary assessment January 2007

Band One Grade *	A**	B	C	D
Guideline Rates	195	173	145	106
Aldershot, Farnham, Bournemouth (including Poole)
Birmingham Inner
Bristol
Cambridge City, Harlow
Canterbury, Maidstone, Medway & Tunbridge Wells
Cardiff (Inner)
Chelmsford South, Essex & East Suffolk
Fareham, Winchester
Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire, Isle of Wight
Kingston, Guildford, Reigate, Epsom
Leeds Inner (within 2 kilometers radius of the City Art Gallery)
Lewes
Liverpool, Birkenhead
Manchester Central
Newcastle - City Centre (within a 2 mile radius of St Nicholas Cathedral)
Norwich City
Nottingham City
Oxford, Thames Valley
Southampton, Portsmouth
Swindon, Basingstoke
Watford

Band Two Grade *	A**	B	C	D
Guideline Rates	183	161	133	101
Bath, Cheltenham and Gloucester, Taunton, Yeovil
Bury
Chelmsford North, Cambridge County, Peterborough, Bury St E, Norfolk, Lowestoft
Chester & North Wales
Coventry, Rugby, Nuneaton, Stratford and Warwick
Exeter, Plymouth
Hull (City)
Leeds Outer, Wakefield & Pontefract
Leigh
Lincoln
Luton, Bedford, St Albans, Hitchin, Hertford
Manchester Outer, Oldham, Bolton, Tameside
Newcastle (other than City Centre)
Nottingham & Derbyshire
Sheffield, Doncaster and South Yorkshire
Southport
St Helens
Stockport, Altrincham, Salford
Swansea, Newport, Cardiff (Outer)
Wigan
Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley & Stourbridge
York, Harrogate

Band Three Grade *	A**	B	C	D
Guideline Rates	167	150	128	95
Birmingham Outer
Bradford (Dewsbury, Halifax, Huddersfield, Keighley & Skipton)
Cumbria
Devon, Cornwall
Grimsby, Skegness
Hull Outer
Kidderminster
Northampton & Leicester
Preston, Lancaster, Blackpool, Chorley, Accrington, Burnley, Blackburn, Rawenstall & Nelson
Scarborough & Ripon
Stafford, Stoke, Tamworth
Teesside
Worcester, Hereford, Evesham and Redditch
Shrewsbury, Telford, Ludlow, Oswestry
South & West Wales

LONDON BANDS

Grade *	A**	B	C	D
City of London: EC1, EC2, EC3, EC4	380	274	210	129
Central London: W1, WC1, WC2, SW1	292	222	181	116
Outer London: (All other London post codes: W, NW, N, E, SE, SW and Bromley, Croydon, Dartford, Gravesend and Uxbridge)	210-246	158-210	152	111

*There are four grades of fee earner:

1. A.Solicitors with over 8 years post qualification experience including at least 8 years litigation experience.
2. B.Solicitors and legal executives with over 4 years post qualification experience including at least 4 years litigation experience.
3. C.Other solicitors and legal executives and fee earners of equivalent experience.
4. D.Trainee Solicitors, para legals and fee earners of equivalent experience.

Note:"legal executive`" means a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives.

**An hourly rate in excess of the guideline figures may be appropriate for Grade A fee earners in substantial and complex litigation where other factors, including the value of the litigation, the level of complexity, the urgency or importance of the matter as well as any international element would justify a significantly higher rate to reflect higher average costs.

Counsel's Fees

The following table sets out figures based on Supreme Court Costs Office statistics dealing with run of the mill proceedings in the Queens Bench and Chancery Division and in the Administrative Court. The table gives figures for cases lasting up to an hour and up to half a day, in respect of counsel up to five years call, up to ten years call and over ten years call. It is emphasised that these figures are not recommended rates but it is hoped that they may provide a helpful starting point for judges when assessing counsel’s fees. The appropriate fee in any particular case may be more or less than the figures appearing in the table, depending upon the circumstances.

The table does not include any figures in respect of leading counsel’s fees since such cases would self evidently be exceptional. Similarly, no figures are included for the Commercial Court or the Technology & Construction Court.

Table of Counsel's Fees

Queens Bench	1 hour hearing	½ day hearing
Junior up to 5 years call	£259	£450
Junior 5 - 10 years call	£386	£767
Junior 10+ years call	£582	£1,164
Chancery Division
Junior up to 5 years call	£291	£556
Junior 5 - 10 years call	£497	£931
Junior 10+ years call	£757	£1,397
Administrative Court
Junior up to 5 years call	£381	£582
Junior 5 - 10 years call	£698	£1,164
Junior 10+ years call	£989	£1,746

 

If the paying parties were represented by counsel, the fee paid to their counsel is an important factor but not a conclusive one on the question of fees payable to the receiving party’s counsel.

In deciding upon the appropriate fee for counsel the question is not simply one of counsel’s experience and seniority but also of the level of counsel which the particular case merits.

Counsel’s fees should not be allowed in cases in which it was not reasonable to have instructed counsel, but it must be borne in mind that, especially in substantial hearings, it may be more economical if the advocacy is conducted by counsel rather than a solicitor. In all cases the court should consider whether or not the decision to instruct counsel has led to an increase in costs and whether that increase is justifiable.

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Guideline Rates for Summary Assessment - January 2005

Band One	Grade *
Guideline Rates	A 184	B 163	C 137	D 100
Aldershot, Farnham, Bournemouth Birmingham Inner Bristol** Cambridge City Centre Canterbury, Maidstone, Medway & Tunbridge Wells Cardiff (Inner) Kingston/Guildford/Reigate/Epsom Leeds Inner (within 1 kilometer radius of the City Art Gallery) Lewes Liverpool, Birkenhead Manchester Central Newcastle - City Centre (within a 2 mile radius of St Nicholas Cathedral) Norwich Nottingham City Southampton, Portsmouth Swindon, Basingstoke **Bristol was reclassified into Band 1 in 2004

Band Two	Grade *
Guideline Rates	A 173	B 152	C 126	D 95
Bath, Cheltenham and Gloucester Bristol, ** Bury Chelmsford North, Cambridge County, Peterborough, Bury St E, Norfolk, Lowestoft Chelmsford South Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire, Isle of Wight Hull (City) Leeds Outer, Wakefield & Pontefract Leigh Luton, Bedford, St Albans, Hitchin, Hertford Manchester Outer/ Oldham/Bolton/Tameside Oxford (Inner/Outer), Reading, Slough Milton Keynes, Aylesbury Sheffield and South Yorkshire Southport St Helens Stockport/Altrincham/Salford Swansea, Newport, Cardiff (Outer) Watford Wigan York, Harrogate **Bristol was reclassified into Band 1 in 2004

Band Three	Grade *
Guideline Rates	A 158	B 142	C 121	D 90
Birmingham Outer Bradford (Dewsbury, Halifax, Huddersfield, Keighley & Skipton) Chester & North Wales Coventry, Rugby, Nuneaton, Stratford and Warwick Cumbria Devon, Cornwall, Exeter, Taunton & Yeovil Grimsby Hull Outer Kidderminster Lincoln Newcastle (other than City Centre) Northampton & Leicester Nottingham & Derbyshire Plymouth Preston, Lancaster, Blackpool, Chorley Accrington, Burnley, Blackburn, Rawenstall & Nelson Scarborough & Ripon Stafford, Stoke, Tamworth Teesside Trowbridge Weston Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley & Stourbridge Worcester, Hereford, Evesham and Redditch Shrewsbury, Telford, Ludlow, Oswestry South & West Wales

London Bands	Grade *
Guideline Rates	A	B	C	D
City of London **	359	259	198	122
Central London	276	210	171	110
Outer London (including Bromley, Croydon, Dartford, Gravesend and Uxbridge)	198-232	149-198	144	105

* There are four grades of fee earner:

1. Solicitors with over 8 years post qualification experience including at least 8 years litigation experience.
2. Solicitors and legal executives with over 4 years post qualification experience including at least 4 years litigation experience.
3. Other solicitors and legal executives and fee earners of equivalent experience.
4. Trainee Solicitors, para legals and fee earners of equivalent experience.

Note: "legal executive" means a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives.

** Although a guideline figure is given for the top grade of fee earner in the City of London, it is recognised that in certain complex, major litigation the appropriate rate may exceed the guideline by a significant margin.

Counsel's Fees

The following table sets out figures based on Supreme Court Costs Office statistics dealing with run of the mill proceedings in the Queens Bench and Chancery Division and in the Administrative Court. The table gives figures for cases lasting up to an hour and up to half a day, in respect of counsel up to five years call, up to ten years call and over ten years call. It is emphasised that these figures are not recommended rates but it is hoped that they may provide a helpful starting point for judges when assessing counsel's fees. The appropriate fee in any particular case may be more or less than the figures appearing in the table, depending upon the circumstances.

The table does not include any figures in respect of leading counsel's fees since such cases would self evidently be exceptional. Similarly, no figures are included for the Commercial Court or the Technology & Construction Court.

Table of Counsel's Fees

Queens Bench	1 hour hearing	½ day hearing
Junior up to 5 years call	£245	£425
Junior 5 - 1- years call	£365	£725
Junior 10+ years call	£550	£1,100

 

Chancery Division	1 hour hearing	½ day hearing
Junior up to 5 years call	£275	£525
Junior 5 - 1- years call	£470	£880
Junior 10+ years call	£715	£1,320

 

Administrative Court	1 hour hearing	½ day hearing
Junior up to 5 years call	£360	£550
Junior 5 - 1- years call	£660	£1,100
Junior 10+ years call	£935	£1,650

 

If the paying parties were represented by counsel, the fee paid to their counsel is an important factor but not a conclusive one on the question of fees payable to the receiving party's counsel.

In deciding upon the appropriate fee for counsel the question is not simply one of counsel's experience and seniority but also of the level of counsel which the particular case merits.

Counsel's fees should not be allowed in cases in which it was not reasonable to have instructed counsel, but it must be borne in mind that, especially in substantial hearings, it may be more economical if the advocacy is conducted by counsel rather than a solicitor. In all cases the court should consider whether or not the decision to instruct counsel has led to an increase in costs and whether that increase is justifiable.

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Guide to the Summary Assessment of Costs 2003

 

Band One	Grade *
Guideline Rates	A 175	B 155	C 130	D 95
Aldershot, Farnham, Bournemouth Birmingham Inner Cambridge City Centre Canterbury, Maidstone, Medway & Tunbridge Wells Cardiff (Inner) Kingston/Guildford/Reigate/Epsom Leeds Inner (within 1 kilometer radius of the City Art Gallery) Lewes Liverpool, Birkenhead Manchester Central Newcastle - City Centre (within a 2 mile radius of St Nicholas Cathedral) Norwich Nottingham City Southampton, Portsmouth Swindon, Basingstoke

Band Two	Grade *
Guideline Rates	A 165	B 145	C 120	D 90
Bath, Cheltenham and Gloucester Bristol, Bury Chelmsford North, Cambridge County, Peterborough, Bury St E, Norfolk, Lowestoft Chelmsford South Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire, Isle of Wight Hull (City) Leeds Outer, Wakefield & Pontefract Leigh Luton, Bedford, St Albans, Hitchin, Hertford Manchester Outer/ Oldham/Bolton/Tameside Oxford (Inner/Outer), Reading, Slough Milton Keynes, Aylesbury Sheffield and South Yorkshire Southport St Helens Stockport/Altrincham/Salford Swansea, Newport, Cardiff (Outer) Watford Wigan York, Harrogate

Band Three	Grade *
Guideline Rates	A 150	B 135	C 115	D 85
Birmingham Outer Bradford (Dewsbury, Halifax, Huddersfield, Keighley & Skipton) Chester & North Wales Coventry, Rugby, Nuneaton, Stratford and Warwick Cumbria Devon, Cornwall, Exeter, Taunton & Yeovil Grimsby Hull Outer Kidderminster Lincoln Newcastle (other than City Centre) Northampton & Leicester Nottingham & Derbyshire Plymouth Preston, Lancaster, Blackpool, Chorley Accrington, Burnley, Blackburn, Rawenstall & Nelson Scarborough & Ripon Stafford, Stoke, Tamworth Teesside Trowbridge Weston Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley & Stourbridge Worcester, Hereford, Evesham and Redditch Shrewsbury, Telford, Ludlow, Oswestry South & West Wales

London Bands	Grade *
Guideline Rates	A	B	C	D
City of London **	342	247	189	116
Central London	263	200	163	105
Outer London (including Bromley, Croydon, Dartford, Gravesend and Uxbridge)	189-221	142-189	137	100

* There are four grades of fee earner:

1. Solicitors with over 8 years post qualification experience including at least 8 years litigation experience.
2. Solicitors and legal executives with over 4 years post qualification experience including at least 4 years litigation experience.
3. Other solicitors and legal executives and fee earners of equivalent experience.
4. Trainee Solicitors, para legals and fee earners of equivalent experience.

Note: "legal executive" means a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives.

Table of Counsel's Fees

Queens Bench	1 hour hearing	½ day hearing
Junior up to 5 years call	£220	£385
Junior 5 - 1- years call	£330	£655
Junior 10+ years call	£500	£1,000

 

Chancery Division	1 hour hearing	½ day hearing
Junior up to 5 years call	£250	£475
Junior 5 - 1- years call	£425	£800
Junior 10+ years call	£650	£1,200

 

Administrative Court	1 hour hearing	½ day hearing
Junior up to 5 years call	£325	£500
Junior 5 - 1- years call	£600	£1,000
Junior 10+ years call	£850	£1,500

 

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Guide to the Summary Assessment of Costs 2001

Midland and Oxford Circuit

Locality		Grade of fee earner*
		1	2	*3
Birmingham Inner	22.01.01	158	123	80
Birmingham Outer	22.01.01	131	103	73
Coventry	13.11.00	135	114	80
Northampton	11.11.00	145	112	80
Oxford (Inner / Outer)	11.11.00	140 / 125	115	80
Nottingham & Derby	30.10.00	135	100	78
Leicester	30.10.00	124	96	74
Lincoln	27.11.00	130	100	78
Stafford	16.11.00	125	100	78

Northern Circuit

Locality		Grade of fee earner*
		1	2	*3
Liverpool	25.10.00	145	125	95
Birkenhead	3.11.00	145	125	95
Leigh	1.01.01	145	125	95
St Helens	3.11.00	145	125	95
Southport	3.11.00	140	120	90
Wigan	1.01.01	145	125	95
Manchester Central (** Please see note below)	25.10.00	155 / 123	97	77
Manchester Outer / Oldham / Stockport (** Please see note below)	25.10.00	155 / 123	97	77
Bolton & Bury / Preston / Kendal / Lancaster / Blackpool		140	112.50	90
Chorley	1.01.01	130	115	85
Cumbria	1.01.01	140	125	110

Northern Eastern Circuit

Locality		Grade of fee earner*
		1	2	*3
Newcastle - City Centre (within 2 miles radius of St Nicholas Cathedral	31.10.00	135	110	85
Newcastle (other than City Centre)	31.10.00	122	102	80
Teeside	23.11.00	122	105	80
Leeds	3.11.00	140	120	90
Bradford: (Dewsbury, Halifax & Huddersfield)	1.01.00	125	110	80
Bradford: (Keighley & Skipton)	1.01.00	125	110	80
Sheffield	25.01.01	120 - 140	105	75
Hull	30.10.00	140 - 150	120 - 130	80 - 90
Grimbsy	3.01.01	135	100	78

Wales & Chester Circuit

Locality		Grade of fee earner*
		1	2	*3
Chester & North Wales		110 - 140	86 - 108	55 - 97.50
Cardiff (Inner)	30.11.00	145	120	85
Swansea - South & West Wales, Cardiff (Outer)	30.11.00	125	115	80

South Eastern Circuit

Locality		Grade of fee earner*
		1	2	*3
City of London RCJ	1.01.01	265	175	95
City of London CC ***	17.11.00	180 - 335	135 - 180	850 - 100
Central London RCJ Central	1.01.01	215	155	95
London CC ***	17.11.00	150 - 280	105 - 150	80 - 90
Outer London RCJ	1.01.01	170	125	90
Outer London CC ***	17.11.00	125 - 200	90 - 125	60 - 85
Lewes	1.12.00	150	130	85
Kingston, Guildford, Reigate, Epson		135	120	75
Luton, Milton Keynes		120	100	75
Watford		135	112.50	85
Chelmsford North: Cambridge	21.11.00	125	120	86.50
Cambridge City Centre	21.11.00	130	125	90
Norwich	21.11.00	130	105	70
Chelmsford South	1.11.00	135	115	90
Croydon	1.11.00	150	130	90
Canterbury, Dartford, Gravesend, Maidstone, Medway	1.02.01	150	140	85

Western Circuit

Locality		Grade of fee earner*
		1	2	*3
Devon, Cornwall & Exeter		120	100	75
Bristol, Taunton	1.12.00	145	125	80
Winchester	7.11.00	145	110	90

* There are three grades of fee earner:

1. Solicitors with over 4 years post qualification experience.
2. Other Solicitors and legal executives and fee earners of equivalent experience.
3. Trainee Solicitors and fee earners of equivalent experience.

Note:- "legal executive" means a fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives.

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Guide to the Summary Assessment of Costs 1999

Midland and Oxford Circuit

Locality	Grade of Fee earner*
	1	2	*3
Birmingham Inner	153	108	84
Birmingham Outer	125	95	69
Coventry	135	114	80
Northampton	145	112	80
Oxford	115-135	105	75 prov
Nottingham	124	96	74
Lincoln	120	96	74
Stafford	120	95	74

Northern Circuit

Locality	Grade of Fee earner*
	1	2	*3
Liverpool	140	120	90
Birkenhead	140	120	90
Leigh	125	95	75
St Helens	120-140	100-120	80-90
Southport	140	120	90
Wigan	125	95	75
Manchester Central	120	95	75
Manchester Outer/Oldham/Stockport	140	112.50	90
Bolton & Bury	140	112.50	90
Preston	120	105	80
Kendal/Lancaster/Blackpool/Chorley	120	105	80
Carlisle	120	85.50	71 prov

North Eastern Circuit

Locality	Grade of Fee earner*
	1	2	*3
Newcatle - City Centre (within a 2 mile radius of St Nicholas Cathedral	120	150	75
Newcastle (not City Centre)	112.50	97.50	75
Teeside	120	105	75
Leeds	140	120	90
Bradford (Dewsbury, Halifax & Huddersfield)	110	100	75
Bradford (Keighley & Skipton)	120	105	75
Sheffield	125	100	75 prov
Hull	140-150	120-130	80-90

Wales & Chester Circuit

Locality	Grade of Fee earner*
	1	2	*3
Chester & North Wales	110-140	86-108	55-97.50
Cardiff	110-140	75-110	55-75
Swansea	120	108	75
Leeds	140	120	90

South Eastern Circuit

Locality	Grade of Fee earner*
	1	2	*3
City of London RCJ	260	175	95 prov
City of London CC	180-335	135-180	85-100
Central London RCJ	215	155	85 prov
Central London CC	150-280	105-150	80-90
Outer London RCJ	162	110	80
Outer London CC	125-200	90-125	60-85
Lewes	145	120	85
Kingston, Guildford, Reigate, Epsom	135	120	75 prov
Luton, Milton Keynes	120	100	75
Watford	135	112.50	85
Chelmsford North: Cambridge	120.50	115.50	86.50
Cambridge City Centre	125	120	90
Norwich	125	100	65
Chelmsford South	130	110	90
Croydon	150	130	90
Canterbury, Dartford, Gravesend, Maidstone & Medway	140	130	70

Western Circuit

Locality	Grade of Fee earner*
	1	2	*3
Devon, Cornwall & Exeter	120	100	75
Bristol	125	94	63
Winchester	135	110	90

Key to Grades:

1. Solicitors with over four years post qualification experience;
2. Other Solicitors and legal executives and fee earners of equivalent experience;
3. Trainee Solicitors and fee earners of equivalent experience. 'Prov' denotes provisional figures which have not yet been finally agreed.