MLR does not currently offer fixed fees for such work as each case is different and will take different amounts of time and work.
Our total costs are based on an hourly rate dependent on the seniority and experience of the fee-earner working on the case.
Our Regulatory & Crime team includes Directors, Associate Directors, Assistant Solicitors, Paralegals and Trainee Solicitors as follows:
Andrew Manners (Director & Solicitor-Advocate): £325ph (plus VAT at 20%)
Andrew has over 30 years post-qualification experience in criminal defence of all cases including homicide, serious fraud, road traffic and driving offences including death by dangerous and careless driving. Andrew has rights of audience before all levels of court. Andrew supervises the team members on a continuous basis.
Cassie Greville (Director): £325ph (plus VAT at 20%)
Cassie has over 10 years post-qualification experience including high profile care standards, fatal health and safety cases as well as financial crime. She also works on motoring cases including serious RTA’s.
Grant Jones (Solicitor): £160ph (plus VAT at 20%)
Grant had extensive experience during his training contract with MLR of criminal cases ranging from road traffic prosecutions to fatal health & safety cases, financial crime and regulatory investigations. Grant qualified into the Crime & Regulatory team where he continues to build on this experience.
Trainee Solicitors: £150ph (plus VAT at 20%)
Additional information:
- All necessary MLR legal and support services are included in the hourly rate. If a Barrister is instructed, their fees will be a disbursement and an additional fee which will also be subject to VAT at 20%. We will agree with the client these fees before we instruct the Barrister.
- Additional disbursements may be incurred depending on the case, such as expert’s fees (e.g. accident reconstruction or a back-calculation on a drink-drive case). We will obtain a quote for such fees and the client’s prior agreement.
- A detailed letter of engagement with our terms and conditions of business is sent to all clients at the start of the retainer and will include a fee estimate specific to that case. Often, we will agree stages with clients with caps on costs as an alternative and this will be set out in our letter of engagement.
- There is no typical case but by way of illustration:
1) A guilty plea at the first and only hearing where attendance by one of our advocates is necessary and no use of experts or need for medical reports/records is likely to cost £1,500 – £2,000 (plus VAT at 20%) depending on location of court. This may e.g. involve an “exceptional hardship” application to avoid a driving disqualification under the “totting up” procedure or in respect of an excess alcohol prosecution.
Services included:
- Review of prosecution evidence
- Taking of initial instructions from client
- Advice as to law, facts, evidence, plea and sentence
- Obtaining any relevant character evidence and/or supporting letters from an employer (e.g. to support an “exceptional hardship” application to avoid a driving ban)
- Representation at court to include advocacy at hearing
- Advice as to the merits of any appeal against sentence
- Written confirmation of outcome of court hearing and advice on appeal (if relevant)
Key Stages/Timescales:
A guilty plea is likely to conclude at the first court hearing listed on the summons or postal charge. This is usually within 4-5 weeks of the date you receive the postal charge. Alternatively, under the Single Justice Notice Procedure (SJNP) you may have the opportunity to respond in writing to the court and not have to attend a hearing if you plead guilty (see further, below). If e.g. due to the number of penalty points on your license you could be at risk of being disqualified from driving, you will not be able to use the SJNP and you will have to attend court.
2) A Not Guilty plea (i.e. a contested case) with evidence being called can cost between £6,000 – £9,500 (plus VAT at 20%) depending on length of trial in addition to any disbursements e.g. experts fees (plus VAT at 20%)
Services included:
- Review of prosecution evidence
- Taking of initial instructions from client
- Advice as to law, facts, evidence, plea and sentence if convicted
- Trial preparation as necessary e.g. taking of witness statements and instruction of expert/s
- Instructions to a barrister (if appropriate, cost-effective and agreed)
- Making any interim applications to court as necessary
- Keeping you updated
- Conduct of trial advocacy
- Advice as to the merits of any appeal against conviction
- Written confirmation of outcome of court hearing and advice on appeal (if relevant)
Key Stages/Timescales:
If there is a not guilty plea, the case will be adjourned at first hearing to either a further hearing to consider any case management issues e.g. availability of witnesses or any experts, and then the trial date is listed.
From plea at first hearing to the trial date, may take up to three months from that date to conclude, depending on court backlogs and availability of magistrates.
3) Single Justice Notice Procedure (SJNP) – If no attendance is necessary, e.g. advice limited to the postal charge and assistance with a written mitigation that is sent to the court under the SJNP, the costs will be far less, and unlikely to be more than £500 (plus VAT at 20%).
Services included:
- Review of prosecution evidence (probably limited to what is included with the postal charge paperwork)
- Taking of initial instructions from client
- Advice as to law, facts, evidence, plea and sentence
- If specifically requested by client, assistance with a written mitigation that is sent to the court under the SJNP
Key Stages/Timescales:
If the case is dealt with under SJNP, there will be a date on the court forms by which you will need to complete, sign and return the form (or complete on-line if available).
