Fees - How LawyerHelp Charges

• Criminal / Traffic Matters
• Written Submissions
• Complicated Cases (Fee by Negotiation)
• Legal Aid
• Demerit Points/Work or Limited Licence
• Instructing Solicitor

Easy, affordable 'Pay as You Go' payment plan

NO REQUIREMENT FOR UP FRONT FEE OR  BIG SURPRISE FEE AT END OF CASE!

• Each office appointment costs only $200+GST

• One Court appointment at Auckland District Court costs only $200+GST

• One appointment at Court other than Auckland District Court costs only $200+GST plus $50+GST Travel charge

• Standard Written Submissions costs only $450+GST  (If required) (Pay in two lots)
  

• Special written submissions $600+GST (Required for S.106 Discharge application and S.94 Order seeking community work in lieu of disqualification. (Pay in three lots)
  

• Sucess Fee $250+GST (If applicable at the end of the case)
  

• Limited/work Licence $600+GST (Money Back Guarantee*)
  

• Opposed limited licence hearing $250+GST (Rare)
  

• Defended Drive Drive Case (Greater Auckland) $1000+GST (Pay as you go) - First appointment $200+GST, preparation fee $300+GST, Defended hearing Auckland District Court $500+GST
  

Complicated Cases (Fee by Negotiation)

If your case is a complicated factual case or your instructions make it a complicated case then you and I will negotiate an agreed fee once I have obtained full police disclosure and have had an opportunity to grasp the complexities of your case. Only once this is done can I realistically assess the likely time involved and the appropriate fee.

Success Fee - There will be a success fee charged of $250+GST if your case is complicated or you seek request a specific goal which I subsequently achieve for you. The Success Fee will be disclosed to you at the first interview if one is to apply.

Work Licence Fee - $600+GST is payable within 7 days of receipt of invoice following my preparation of your application or sooner if you are notified that your matter is set down for a court hearing in less than 7 days.

Filing Fee - (No filing fee required for demerit licence applications) For all other licence applications the Filing Fee is $153.33 and is due as soon as I notified you I have paid your filing fee (please pay by online bank transfer) or in cash on the morning of your court hearing.

Payment of all fees is to be by cash or by online back transfer.

Please credit to Barrister Melanie Coxon, Kiwibank Account Number 389008 0453945 00 and esure your name is included beside the deposit for reference purposes.

Legal Aid

As of 29 November 2010 the right to have counsel of choice has been removed for catagory one and two matters. If you wish to hire me or another Lawyerhelp lawyer you will now have to agree to pay our fee privately. Our fees are very affordable. Using our 'easy pay as you go' plan will remove much of the stress of hiring a lawyer. If you cannot afford to pay our affordable fees you will have to apply for legal aid. I remind you there is no longer right to counsel of choice. If legal aid is granted you may be required to repay some or all of the legal aid grant. If you are refused legal aid you can file an appeal. If your appeal is declined you will have to borrow money from family or friends to pay for a lawyer or represent yourself.

Demerit Points/Work or Limited Licence

My fee to prepare a limited licence application in the Greater Auckland area or NZ Wide is $600+GST. You do not need to pay me any money upfront. Once I have prepared your application I will give you my Bill of Costs. This is my invoice. My terms of trade are payment within 7 days. If however I am able to obtain police approval and set your matter down for hearing in court in less than 7 days then you agree to pay me my full fee $600+GST online or in cash prior to the Court hearing. I have a money back guarantee and will refund your fee if I am ultimately unsuccessful in getting the judge to grant you your order.

*My 'satisfaction or money back guarantee' is subject to the following conditions.

• That you declare all traffic convictions within the last 5 years and how many times you have previously lost your licence for demerits at the time you complete the online form at www.lawyerhelp.co.nz website.
• The $600+GST preparation fee is paid as per my 'Letter of Engagement' (within 7 days even if you have yet to appear in court or have not yet plead guilty). If the processing of your application and the setting down of your court hearing is less than 7 days then the $600+GST fee is due and payable before the court hearing as is the filing fee of $153.33 if it is for drink drive.
• Further if your application for a limited licence is as a result of demerit points you must obtain your Land Transport demerit letter within 21 days of it being available to be uplifted. You can do this by contacting the land Transport on 0800 822 422 to arrange service of the notice or email info@nzta.govt.nz to arrange service or by visiting your local police station (Auckland Central is best if you reside in Auckland) and requesting a Section 90 notice (notice of driver licence suspension and disqualification for excess demerit points).
• The money back guarantee does not apply to special applications where one is seeking a community based sentence in lieu of disqualification.

Instructing Solicitor

Barristers' clients need to be referred to them by a solicitor (known as the Instructing Solicitor). If you do not have your own solicitor, or do not wish to use him, I can arrange one for you at no extra cost.