Competitive Solicitor Rates..?

Green Light

I'm appearing in the District Court on a relatively minor criminal charge to which I'll be pleading guilty to.

As I'm employed full-time I'll have little chance of receiving legal aid.

I've been quoted 2,500 plus 21% Vat(3,000 in total) by one solicitor for representing me and an extra 500 per subsequent appearance.

As a compete novice in this area these fees seem on the high side. Are there any solicitors out there with experience in this area willing to beat this quote or cananyone reccomend a practitioner who may be available?

Jo King

You do not say what part of the country you are in, so how can anyone give a recommendation or a quote?
For what it is worth, the best thing to do is go to your local District Court sittings in advance of your appearance. You will quickly realise who the legal aid solicitors are. Approach some of them for a quote.
Solicitors who do not do a lot of District Court work have to charge quite a lot for their time, but those who are in court frequently have economies of scale and so can quote less.

Green Light

Thanks for the advice Jo. I'm based in Dublin. The solicitor who gave me the original quote is a regular in the Courts but is with a large firm.

Green Light

Are there any free lancers out there willing to take me on? It's pretty much an open and shut case and all I want is someone to be there on the day to guide me through the procedings.

It's not that I'm tight with money but 3K does sound a bit steep.

dee75

Hi Green Light

I'm a solicitor based in the South East, so not much use to you unfortunately. Although for €2,500 I'd happily travel to Dublin to represent you!

It does depend what you are charged or summonsed with, but my own prices would usually be around €250-300 plus VAT for a lot of simple criminal matters where the person is pleading guilty. Extra attendances at court due to adjournments are usually only €50 to €100 extra per attendance. Obviously a contested matter (where pleading not guilty) would cost more as it involves a full hearing of the case.

If you don't mind saying, what type of criminal matter is it?

Good luck

Dee75

Jo King

Green Light wrote: »

Thanks for the advice Jo. I'm based in Dublin. The solicitor who gave me the original quote is a regular in the Courts but is with a large firm.

A lot of the large firms do not do criminal work at all and when they do they want to make the same money as they do for civil cases. There are no economies of scale. There are a number of smaller operators who specialise in criminal work and who would be in the CCJ all of the time. They would charge a figure in the hundreds for a simple case.

Green Light

Jo King wrote: »

A lot of the large firms do not do criminal work at all and when they do they want to make the same money as they do for civil cases. There are no economies of scale. There are a number of smaller operators who specialise in criminal work and who would be in the CCJ all of the time. They would charge a figure in the hundreds for a simple case.

Thanks again Jo. I'd not considered that point about firms seeking similar fees as they get for civil cases. Makes alot of sense.

I've a slight problem getting access to the courts due to work commitments hence my online attempt to get in touch with someone more reasonable. I've got a coulpe of weeks before the case it up for mention.

Green Light

dee75 wrote: »

Hi Green Light

I'm a solicitor based in the South East, so not much use to you unfortunately. Although for €2,500 I'd happily travel to Dublin to represent you!

It does depend what you are charged or summonsed with, but my own prices would usually be around €250-300 plus VAT for a lot of simple criminal matters where the person is pleading guilty. Extra attendances at court due to adjournments are usually only €50 to €100 extra per attendance. Obviously a contested matter (where pleading not guilty) would cost more as it involves a full hearing of the case.

If you don't mind saying, what type of criminal matter is it?

Good luck

Dee75

Thank you Dee.

Crikey thats a huge price differential!

I'm pleading guilty and there will be a report from my Therapist to go with it as part of my Defence but it will be wholly uncontested.

As I'm sure you understand I'd rather keep the details off the public forum but if you know any Solicitors who are Dublin based you think you could reccomend or possibly even yourself as I'd be happy to pay your going rate plus any expenses incurred travelling up here and back I'd be happy to here from you via private message.

Thanks again!

dee75

Green Light

Sent you PM there. Thanks for the possibility of work, but I always recommend you go with a solicitor who regularly appears before the particular District Court judge - worth a lot in my opinion if they know the Judge's attitude to various things.

Best of luck

Dee75

Reloc8

This thread has a list of criminal solicitor firms based in Dublin in it.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055783303&highlight=criminal+solicitors

Jo King

Green Light wrote: »

Thank you Dee.

Crikey thats a huge price differential!

I'm pleading guilty and there will be a report from my Therapist to go with it as part of my Defence but it will be wholly uncontested.


Thanks again!

You should talk to a solicitor before you think about pleading guilty. If it is a guilty plea in the District Court, I can guarantee that it can be done for €350.

Green Light

Jo King wrote: »

You should talk to a solicitor before you think about pleading guilty. If it is a guilty plea in the District Court, I can guarantee that it can be done for €350.

I've accepted full responsibility in my Statement to the Gards and I don't want to in any way drag this process out any longer than I have to as moving on is my main aim while accepting my part in Court. But I appreciate where you're coming from Jo and will consult with a solicitor before pleading.

Just shows how one can be ripped off though eh?

Green Light

Reloc8 wrote: »

This thread has a list of criminal solicitor firms based in Dublin in it.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055783303&highlight=criminal+solicitors

Thank you Reloc8.Thats a great help

Jo King

Green Light wrote: »

Just shows how one can be ripped off though eh?

It is not quite a rip off. You asked the wrong type of practitioner to do the job.
The big civil offices need hundreds of euro per hour to break even. Going in to the District Court for one client is going to require substantial fees to make it economic. Get a chef out to your house to cook a meal just for you. What would it cost for one meal if you had to pay for all the time involved in travel and preparation. If the same chef is asked to cook for 10 people the cost per meal is much lower.

Green Light

Jo King wrote: »

It is not quite a rip off. You asked the wrong type of practitioner to do the job.
The big civil offices need hundreds of euro per hour to break even. Going in to the District Court for one client is going to require substantial fees to make it economic. Get a chef out to your house to cook a meal just for you. What would it cost for one meal if you had to pay for all the time involved in travel and preparation. If the same chef is asked to cook for 10 people the cost per meal is much lower.

I hear what you're saying Jo but it certainly pays to shop around for the one service.

Reloc8

Green Light wrote: »

Thank you Reloc8.Thats a great help

No problem

Green Light wrote: »

I hear what you're saying Jo but it certainly pays to shop around for the one service.

As with all things (and I echo what Jo said).

Green Light

Well I've taken on a Solicitor whose quoted me far more reasonable fees and is a regular in the District Court.

Thank you again to everyone for your help. It's been invaluable.