Charges for driving offences

Our Criminal Team defends clients who are investigated or charged with driving offences. For most cases dealt with in the Magistrates’ Court, we charge on a fixed fee basis. If cases are more complex, we will charge on the following hourly rates, according to the number of hours worked on the case.

• Solicitors: £150 - £200
• Trainee Solicitors and Paralegals: £100

Fixed fee cases

In straightforward cases, we are able to offer a fixed fee. The fixed fee would cover obtaining and considering the evidence in your case, meeting with you to take your instructions and advise on plea and sentence; representing you at Court and advising you on appeal if necessary (representing you in the appeal itself would be the subject of a separate fee).

• Case concluding at first hearing: £500 plus VAT
• Each additional court hearing: £250 plus VAT

Hourly rate cases

Our fees would cover obtaining and considering the evidence in your case, meeting with you to take your instructions and advise on plea; interviewing any witnesses, drafting letters and documents, instructing any experts, representing you at Court and advising you on appeal if necessary (but not representing you in the appeal itself – this would be the subject of a separate fee).

The exact number of hours your case will require depends on many factors including the legal and factual complexity, the amount of evidence to consider, the time spent attending and advising you and any witnesses, the time spent drafting documents and at Court, and whether expert evidence is required. It will also depend on whether you are pleading not guilty or guilty. They are likely to be in the following range.

Not Guilty pleas

Typically, such a case will involve between 10 and 30 hours work by the solicitor dealing with your case, including representation at trial.

The total fees would range from £1,500 to £4,500 plus VAT.

Any expert’s fees would be charged in addition to this firm’s fees.

Guilty plea followed by a ‘Special Reasons’ hearing

Typically, such a case will involve between 10 and 20 hours work by the solicitor dealing with your case, including representation at Court.

The total fees would range from £1500 to £3000 plus VAT.

Any expert’s fees would be charged in addition to this firm’s fees.

Timeframes

Cases involving a guilty plea usually conclude within 1 to 2 months after you are charged or summonsed by the police.

Cases involving ‘Special Reasons’ may take longer.

Cases involving a not guilty plea usually conclude within 2 to 6 months after you are charged or summonsed by the police.

However, the actual timescale for your case depends on a number of factors, some beyond our control. All courts are currently operating with a backlog, which has been exacerbated by the pandemic.

Disbursements

In addition to our fees, you may be responsible for costs payable to another organisation, such as court fees, fees for an expert report, interpreter/translation costs, our travel costs if we have to travel outside our office on your behalf, barrister fees. We will discuss any such costs with you in advance.

The experience and qualifications of those carrying out the work

Details of the experience and qualifications of all those who will carry out the work on your case are to be found in our lawyer profiles.

Getting Started

If you wish to instruct us in respect of an application please call us on 020 3326 2585 or email info@goldmanbaileysolicitors.co.uk.