3, Sussex Terrace, Hawthorn, South Australia 5062
Telephone: (+ 61 8) 8172 1222
Facsimile: (+ 61 8) 8127 9553
Contact
- Scale fees
My fees are charged in accordance with the scale of fees published by the Supreme Court of South Australia. The scale allows lump sums for various steps or actions, but some items are chargeable on a time basis at a prescribed hourly rate. The time is usually measured in minimum units of six minutes (one-tenth of an hour). Whenever I perform items of chargeable work on your behalf, I record them in my computer system and they are reproduced in my invoices in due course.
- Disbursements
Sometimes I will spend my own money on your behalf, e.g., payment of court fees, search fees, service fees and the like. Such payments are called "disbursements". They can mount up quickly in the practice, if I am conducting a number of matters simultaneously. I like to invoice them promptly so that I am not out of pocket for any longer than necessary.
- Invoicing
I usually send invoices monthly. This helps you to keep track of your legal costs and helps me to maintain cashflow. My invoices are itemised, setting out details of the fees and disbursements charged. My invoices are payable within 14 days. I may charge interest on invoices which are not paid within that time.
- Payment in advance
I may ask you to pay a sum into my trust account in advance, to cover anticipated fees or disbursements or both. The funds will be used, as required, to meet any disbursements and to pay my fees as they are invoiced.
- Litigation
If you are the successful party in a litigious matter, the Court may order that the unsuccessful party pay your costs. Such an order relates only to those costs, calculated on the appropriate scale, which it is reasonable for the unsuccessful party to pay. It does not mean that the unsuccessful party must pay the fees and disbursements which I have charged to you - responsibility for payment of those fees and disbursements remains with you.