Fee policy
Maurice Blackburn is committed to providing access to justice
for ordinary Australians.
Before we undertake any work, you will be given a costs
agreement, which outlines how we calculate our fees for legal
services. It will also include an estimated range of your legal
costs.
A costs agreement could be:
1. "No win - no fee" (No win - No
charge) costs
Several of our departments offer "No win - No charge" legal
services. "No win - No charge" may be offered by the following
practice areas:
- Asbestos Diseases
- Catastrophic Injuries
- Class Actions
- Medical Negligence
- Superannuation & Insurance Claims
- Road Accident Injuries
- Work Related Injuries
We offer "No win - No charge" legal services when appropriate
and when we believe that your case is reasonably likely to be
successful. "No win - No charge" only applies to our
professional fees (that is the fees we charge for
work performed by us). Generally, disbursements (out of
pocket expenses etc) must be paid whether you win or lose. In our
Class Actions and Asbestos Diseases practice areas, disbursements
will only be payable if your claim is successful.
In some Australian jurisdictions, when we achieve a successful
outcome which awards you money or a benefit; legal costs will be
charged together with a 25% success fee. No success fee is
payable in NSW.
In Victoria, for example, the success fee is up to 25% which the
Legal Profession Act 2004 allows us to charge in
recognition of the risk involved and the additional expenses
incurred by us in conducting your case on a "No win - No charge"
basis. The success fee is not charged on expenses that you
have paid during the course of your claim or that have been
reimbursed by WorkCover or the TAC. The fee is
not 25% of any damages you receive, it is a 25%
increase on the legal costs due, ie for every $1000 in costs you
would be charged an extra $250. We will be happy to explain
the precise situation in each Australian jurisdiction or
territory.
In the Commercial Law, Employment & Industrial Law and
Wills departments or when we do not act "No win - No charge" one of
the following cost arrangements will be offered to you:
2. Deferred professional fees
This is an arrangement where expenses are payable as requested
by us, and professional fees are payable shortly before or at the
end of your case, regardless of outcome.
3. Pay as you go
This is an arrangement where expenses are payable either when
they fall due or in advance, and professional fees are billed and
due on either monthly or quarterly, regardless of outcome.
4. Pay in advance
This is an arrangement where legal costs are paid in advance and
are payable regardless of outcome. The amount to be paid in
advance will be determined by agreement between us and you.
For further information on Maurice Blackburn's fee arrangements,
contact us on 1800 810 856.