INSTRUCTIONS

1

To sue or defend, or to make or oppose an application for leave or special leave to appeal, or to appeal, or oppose an appeal or to cross appeal, or for any other originating proceedings

272.00

2

To make or oppose any interlocutory application

120.70

3

For a special case, case stated or reservation of question of law for the consideration of a Full Court, or for a statement of claim or a petition

272.00

4

For any pleading (other than a statement of claim)

211.30

5

To amend any pleading

72.80

6

For a statement of facts or an agreed statement of facts in a matter

211.30

7

For interrogatories, answers to interrogatories, special affidavits or an affidavit (not being a formal affidavit)

163.00

8

For counsel to advise

116.30

9

For a document not otherwise provided for

45.50

10

For a brief for counsel on a hearing or application in Court or brief notes for solicitor

Note   Instructions are not to be allowed where the work intended to be included therein is charged for and allowed in detail. Instead of the above costs for instructions, such larger sum may be claimed as is reasonable in all the circumstances of the case, and is allowed on taxation at the discretion of the Taxing Officer.

151.10

WRITS

11

Writ of Summons for the commencement of an action or other writ not specifically provided for

125.70

12

Concurrent Writ of Summons

45.20

13

Writ of Subpoena

65.80

14

If any of the above writs exceeds 3 folios, for each extra folio

Note   These costs include all endorsements, and copies (for the officers sealing them) and attendances to issue or seal, but not the Court fees.

9.10

SUMMONSES

15

Any summons including preparation, copies and attendance to issue, including attendance to fix return date

77.10

 — if more than 3 folios, for each extra folio

9.10

APPEARANCES AND NOTICES

16

Preparing and entering an appearance including duplicate memorandum and Notice of Appearance for service

127.20

17

Any necessary or proper notice or memorandum not otherwise provided for, or any demand

42.60

 — if more than 3 folios, for each extra folio

Note   This provision shall not apply to short notices or memoranda endorsed on other documents but the words or folios therein may be allowed as part of the documents so endorsed.

9.10

DRAWING

18

Drawing any pleading or affidavit not exceeding 5 folios

120.70

 — or, per folio

17.00

19

Drawing any other document where no other provision is made — per folio

16.60

ENGROSSING

20

Marking each exhibit to an affidavit

3.00

21

Engrossing any document — per folio

6.30

COPIES

22

Of any document including carbon, photographic or machine made copy per page. Except that where the allowance for 10 or more pages is claimed, in respect of any document, the sum allowed for such copies shall be at the discretion of the Taxing Officer

3.00

PERUSAL AND EXAMINATION

23

Perusal of any document including special letter, telegram, telex or similar document

45.00

 — or, per folio

Except that where an allowance for 30 or more folios is claimed, in respect of any document, the sum allowed for perusal shall be at the discretion of the Taxing Officer

6.30

24

Where it is not necessary to peruse a document, such as checking a proof print of, or examining an application or appeal book, per quarter hour

 — solicitor

45.20

 — clerk

14.70

CORRESPONDENCE

25

Short letter including a formal acknowledgment, making appointments, forwarding documents without comment

21.40

26

Ordinary letter (including letters between principal and agent)

36.40

27

Circular letter (after the first) each

12.10

28

Special letter or letter containing opinion and including letters of substance between principal and agent

60.30

or

Such sum as the Taxing Officer thinks reasonable in the circumstances

29

Telegram, facsimile copy, telex or other document by similar transmitting process including attendance to dispatch (where necessary)

60.30

or

Such sum as the Taxing Officer thinks reasonable in the circumstances

30

Receiving and filing any incoming special letter, facsimile, telegram or telex

Note   Postage and transmission fees may be claimed as a disbursement properly incurred.

3.00

SERVICE

31

Personal service of any process or proceeding where necessary

75.10

or

Such sum may be allowed as is reasonable having regard to time occupied, distance travelled and other relevant circumstances

32

When, in consequence of the distance of the party to be served, it is proper to effect service through an agent, instead of the allowance for service for:

 (a) correspondence

66.80

 (b) agent’s charges and such disbursements as may reasonably be incurred

127.40

33

Service of any document at the office of the address for service either by delivery or by post

25.70

ATTENDANCES

34

An attendance which requires the attendance of a solicitor, per quarter hour

72.00

35

An attendance which is capable of being made by a clerk

45.00

 — or, per quarter hour

11.90

36

Making an appointment or similar attendance by telephone

21.50

37

An attendance on counsel:

 — with brief or other papers

45.80

 — to appoint a conference or consultation

20.10

38

A conference or consultation with counsel

120.70

 — or, per half hour

91.10

39

On a summons

67.90

 — or, per half hour

120.70

40

In Court instructing counsel on any hearing or application

 — if a solicitor attends, per hour

290.00

or

 — if a clerk attends, per hour

120.80

41

On an application or appearance before a Registrar or a Taxing Officer

151.10

 — or, per hour

Note    Instead of the above costs for attendances, such larger sum may be claimed as is reasonable in all the circumstances of the case, and is allowed on taxation at the discretion of the Taxing Officer.

181.10

42

To hear judgment

79.10

43

When in the opinion of the Taxing Officer it is necessary for two solicitors, or a solicitor and a clerk to attend on a hearing, such additional allowance as the Taxing Officer thinks reasonable shall be made

Not exceeding per day

606.30

44

Where the Taxing Officer is satisfied that the principal place of practice of a solicitor is in a place other than that in which the Court is sitting, and it is necessary for the solicitor to leave that place to attend in Court at the hearing of an appeal, application, or cause, an allowance (in addition to reasonable travelling expenses) may be made for each day that the solicitor is necessarily absent from the principal place of practice of such amount that the Taxing Officer thinks reasonable having regard to such other charges as the solicitor may be entitled to make in the matter

Not exceeding per day

1354.30

45

An attendance for which no other provision is made

60.30

PREPARATION OF APPEAL AND APPLICATION BOOKS

46

Preparation of appeal and application books including collating all necessary material, all necessary attendances and general oversight of their preparation in cases where the Registrar is satisfied it has been done efficiently. Per hour:

 — solicitor

196.00

 — clerk

65.40

47

Where appeal or application books are prepared in a solicitor’s office, the Taxing Officer may allow such sum as the Taxing Officer thinks just and reasonable having regard to work and labour properly performed and charged for material used. In exercising this discretion the Taxing Officer shall have regard to commercial rates for copying and binding and is not obliged to apply the photographic or machine made copy costs otherwise allowable in this scale

GENERAL CARE AND CONDUCT

48

The Taxing Officer may, where the case or circumstances warrant it, allow an amount to be claimed under this item, in addition to any item which appears in this scale, for general care and conduct. In exercising this discretion the Taxing Officer may have regard to any matters which the Taxing Officer considers relevant including:

 (a) the complexity of the matter and the difficulty and novelty of the questions raised or any of them;

 (b) the importance of the matter to the party and the amount involved;

 (c) the skill, labour, specialised knowledge and responsibility involved therein on the part of the solicitor;

 (d) the number and importance of the documents prepared or perused without regard to length;

 (e) the time expended by the solicitor; and

 (f) research and consideration of questions of law and fact

WITNESSES EXPENSES

49

Witnesses called because of their professional, scientific or other special skill or knowledge

Per day

1103.20

50

Witnesses called, other than those covered in item 49

Per day

116.30

51

Witnesses remunerated in their occupation by wages, salary or fees, the amount lost by attendance at Court

52

Where the witness resides more than 50 kilometres from the Court, such sum as the Taxing Officer thinks reasonable for the actual cost of conveyance, together with a reasonable amount for sustenance or maintenance

53

The Taxing Officer may also allow such amount as the Taxing Officer thinks reasonable and properly incurred and paid to witnesses for qualifying to give skilled evidence

54

Notwithstanding anything in the scale, the Taxing Officer may allow to an expert witness a special fee for attendance at Court not covered by the foregoing paragraphs of this item when the witness is acting as an expert in assisting counsel or a solicitor for a period during the trial or hearing. The scale in this item does not affect the existing practice of allowing qualifying fees to witnesses

DISBURSEMENTS

55

All Court fees, counsel’s fees and other fees and payments, to the extent to which they have been properly and reasonably incurred and paid, shall be allowed

56

The remuneration allowed to a solicitor shall be governed by the foregoing scale but in special cases the Taxing Officer may allow such additional charges or disbursements as the Taxing Officer considers reasonable