SCHEDULE 4N.I.REPRESENTATION (HIGHER COURTS)

PART 2N.I.Family and Children Order Proceedings – Family Care Centre

[F1All proceedings including appeals from the Family Proceedings Court and Domestic Proceedings Court]

Table 1:
Solicitor – Hourly Rates
Work TypeRate
Preparation£58 per hour
Letters Written£3.65 per item
Letters Received£1.85 per item
Telephone Calls£3.65 per call
Non Standard Telephone Call (over 5 minutes)£58 per hour
Advocacy – Solicitor Alone£64 per hour
Consultation with Counsel£32.50 per hour
Advocacy – Solicitor with Counsel£32.50 per hour
Table 2:
Counsel – Composite Fees
Work TypeComposite Fee
On an unopposed application or a procedural issue

Standard £76.25

Maximum £127

On the trial of a cause or matter, or the hearing of an application:
- Where the hearing lasts for up to half a day

Standard £140

Maximum £268

- Full Day

Standard £317.75

Maximum £508.50

- Refresher£140 for each additional day
[F2Consultation and Preparation]£35.50 per hour
Complex items of work (opinions, affidavits)£82.75 per item
All other written work£50.25 per item
Table 3:
Children Order – Proceedings under Articles 44 and 50
Work TypeSolicitor's Composite Fee
Composite Fee£3,500
Additional Full Day£400
Additional Half Day£200
Judgment Fee£150
[F335% of Composite Fee – Case Withdrawn or Transferred (following first directions hearing but before a final hearing date is set)]£1,225
[F420% of Composite Fee – Case Withdrawn or Transferred (at first directions hearing)]£700
Table 4:
Children Order – All Other Proceedings
Work TypeSolicitor's Composite Fee
Composite Fee£2,000
Additional Full Day£400
Additional Half Day£200
Judgment Fee£150
[F335% of Composite Fee – Case Withdrawn or Transferred (following first directions hearing but before a final hearing date is set)]£700
[F420% of Composite Fee – Case Withdrawn or Transferred (at first directions hearing)]£400
Table 5:
Children Order – Appeals from the Family Proceedings Court – Proceedings under Articles 44 and 50
Work TypeSolicitor's Composite Fee
Composite Fee£1,400
Additional Full Day£400
Additional Half Day£200
Judgment Fee£150
[F335% of Composite Fee – Case Withdrawn or Transferred (following first directions hearing but before a final hearing date is set)]£490
[F420% of Composite Fee – Case Withdrawn or Transferred (at first directions hearing)]£280
Table 6:
[F5Appeals from the Family Proceedings Court and Domestic Proceedings Court – Re Other Proceedings]
Work TypeSolicitor's Composite Fee
Composite fee£800
Additional Full Day£400
Additional Half Day£200
Judgment Fee£150
[F335% of Composite Fee – Case Withdrawn or Transferred (following first directions hearing but before a final hearing date is set)]£280
[F420% of Composite Fee – Case Withdrawn or Transferred (at first directions hearing)]£160
Table 7:
Proceedings under Adoption (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 M1 – Freeing Order
Work TypeSolicitor's Composite Fee
Composite Fee£3,500
Additional Full Day£400
Additional Half Day£200
Judgment Fee£150
[F335% of Composite Fee – Case Withdrawn or Transferred (following first directions hearing but before a final hearing date is set)]£1,225
[F420% of Composite Fee – Case Withdrawn or Transferred (at first directions hearing)]£700
Table 8:
Combined Proceedings – Freeing Order and Article 50
Work TypeSolicitor's Composite Fee
Composite Fee£5,000
Additional Full day£400
Additional Half Day£200
Judgment Fee£150
[F335% of Composite Fee – Case Withdrawn or Transferred (following first directions hearing but before a final hearing date is set)]£1,750
[F420% of Composite Fee – Case Withdrawn or Transferred (at first directions hearing)]£1,000
Table 9:
Adoption Order – Contested
Work TypeSolicitor's Composite Fee
Composite Fee£3,500
Additional Full Day£400
Additional Half Day£200
Judgment Fee£150
[F335% of Composite Fee – Case Withdrawn or Transferred (following first directions hearing but before a final hearing date is set)]£1,225
[F420% of Composite Fee – Case Withdrawn or Transferred (at first directions hearing)]£700
Table 10:
Adoption Order – Uncontested
Work TypeSolicitor's Composite Fee
Composite Fee£400
Additional Full Day£400
Additional Half Day£200
Judgment Fee£150
[F335% of Composite Fee – Case Withdrawn or Transferred (following first directions hearing but before a final hearing date is set)]£140
[F420% of Composite Fee – Case Withdrawn or Transferred (at first directions hearing)]£80
Table 11:
Proceedings under Family Homes and Domestic Violence (Northern Ireland) Order 1988 M2 –Non-Molestation / Occupation Order
Work TypeSolicitor's Composite Fee
Composite Fee£528
Additional Full Day£400
Additional Half day£200
Judgment Fee£150
[F335% of Composite Fee – Case Withdrawn or Transferred (following first directions hearing but before a final hearing date is set)]£184.80
[F420% of Composite Fee – Case Withdrawn or Transferred (at first directions hearing)]£105.60
Table 12:
Children Order – All Proceedings
Item of WorkJunior CounselSenior Counsel
Brief Fee£2,000£3,000
Directions and Written Work£780£1,170
Refresher – Full Day£400£600
Refresher – Half Day£200£300
Judgment Fee£150£225
[F635% Brief Fee ─ Case Withdrawn or Transferred (following first directions hearing but before a final hearing date is set)]£700£1,050
[F720% Brief Fee ─ Case Withdrawn or Transferred ( at first directions hearing)]£400£600
Table 13:
[F8Appeals from the Family Proceedings Court and Domestic Proceedings Court – No New Evidence]
Item of WorkJunior CounselSenior Counsel
Brief Fee£800£1,200
Directions and Written Work£195£292.50
Refresher – Full Day£400£600
Refresher – Half Day£200£300
Judgment Fee£150£225
[F635% Brief Fee ─ Case Withdrawn or Transferred (following first directions hearing but before a final hearing date is set)]£280£420
[F720% Brief Fee ─ Case Withdrawn or Transferred ( at first directions hearing)]£160£240
Table 14:
[F9Appeals from the Family Proceedings Court and Domestic Proceedings Court – New Evidence]
Item of WorkJunior CounselSenior Counsel
Brief Fee£1,500£2,250
Directions and Written work£312£468
Refresher – Full Day£400£600
Refresher – Half Day£200£300
Judgment Fee£150£225
[F635% Brief Fee ─ Case Withdrawn or Transferred (following first directions hearing but before a final hearing date is set)]£525£787.50
[F720% Brief Fee ─ Case Withdrawn or Transferred ( at first directions hearing)]£300£450
Table 15:
Proceedings under Adoption (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 M3 – Freeing Order
Item of WorkJunior CounselSenior Counsel
Brief Fee£2,500£3,750
Directions and Written Work£780£1,170
Refresher – Full Day£400£600
Refresher – Half Day£200£300
Judgment Fee£150£225
[F635% Brief Fee ─ Case Withdrawn or Transferred (following first directions hearing but before a final hearing date is set)]£875£1,312.50
[F720% Brief Fee ─ Case Withdrawn or Transferred ( at first directions hearing)]£500£750
Table 16:
Combined Proceedings – Freeing Order and Article 50
Item of WorkJunior CounselSenior Counsel
Brief Fee£3,520£5,280
Directions and Written Work£1,170£1,755
Refresher – Full Day£400£600
Refresher – Half Day£200£300
Judgment Fee£200£300
[F635% Brief Fee ─ Case Withdrawn or Transferred (following first directions hearing but before a final hearing date is set)]£1,232£1,848
[F720% Brief Fee ─ Case Withdrawn or Transferred ( at first directions hearing)]£7041,056
Table 17:
Adoption Order – Contested
Item of WorkJunior CounselSenior Counsel
Brief Fee£2,500£3,750
Directions and Written Work£780£1,170
Refresher – Full Day£400£600
Refresher – Half Day£200£300
Judgment Fee£150£225
[F635% Brief Fee ─ Case Withdrawn or Transferred (following first directions hearing but before a final hearing date is set)]£875£1,312.50
[F720% Brief Fee ─ Case Withdrawn or Transferred ( at first directions hearing)]£500£750
Table 18:
Adoption Order – Uncontested
Item of WorkJunior CounselSenior Counsel
Brief Fee£1,150£1,725
Directions and Written Work£312£468
Refresher – Full Day£400£600
Refresher – Half Day£200£300
Judgment Fee£150£225
[F635% Brief Fee ─ Case Withdrawn or Transferred (following first directions hearing but before a final hearing date is set)]£402.50£603.75
[F720% Brief Fee ─ Case Withdrawn or Transferred ( at first directions hearing)]£230£345
Table 19:
Proceedings under Family Homes and Domestic Violence (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 M4 –Non-Molestation / Occupation Order
Item of WorkJunior CounselSenior Counsel
Brief Fee£1,500£2,250
Directions and Written Work£780£1,170
Refresher – Full Day£400£600
Refresher – Half Day£200£300
Judgment Fee£150£225
[F635% Brief Fee ─ Case Withdrawn or Transferred (following first directions hearing but before a final hearing date is set)]£525£787.50
[F720% Brief Fee ─ Case Withdrawn or Transferred ( at first directions hearing)]£300£450

Textual Amendments

Marginal Citations