FEE TRANSPARENCY AT OWN SOLICITORS

OWN Solicitors is regulated by The Solicitors Regulation Authority.  From 6th December 2018 The Solicitors Regulation Authority requires all firms regulated by them to publish on their website certain price, service and complaints handling information.  The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s “Transparency Rules” apply to certain forms of legal advice conducted by OWN, namely Summary Motoring Offences.

Legal Aid

Legal Aid is generally only available for more serious driving offences, such as dangerous driving or causing death by dangerous driving (subject to a financial means test).

Other driving offences are unlikely to qualify for Legal Aid and would need to be paid privately.  

Private fees for Summary Motoring Offences

Most private “Summary Only” (Magistrates Court) motoring cases at OWN Solicitors are dealt with by way of a fixed fee.  In successful cases we will apply for a ‘Defendant’s Costs Order’ which (in most cases) will result in a proportion, but not all, of your legal fees being recovered.

Please contact us to obtain a quote for your matter.

OWN Solicitor’s fixed fees concerning straightforward Magistrates Court motoring matters are detailed below:-

PRIVATE FEES* FOR “SUMMARY ONLY”

(MAGISTRATES COURT) MOTORING OFFENCES**

1ST APPEARANCE/SENTENCE SAME DAY AT HIGH WYCOMBE MAGISTRATES
COURT (‘HWMC’) 

£750

SENTENCING HEARING AT HWMC (IF CASE ADJOURNED FROM 1ST APPEARANCE)
£500

HALF DAY TRIAL AT HWMC (2 TO 3 HOURS TIME ESTIMATE) £800

FULL DAY TRIAL/SPECIAL REASONS HEARING/ NEWTON HEARING AT HWMC
£1500

EACH EXTRA DAY OF TRIAL AT HWMC £800

EXCEPTIONAL HARDSHIP HEARING AT HWMC £750

FIRST APPEARANCE/SENTENCE AT OXFORD MAGISTRATES COURT £700

OXFORD MAGISTRATES COURT SENTENCING HEARING
(IF CASE ADJOURNED FROM FIRST APPEARANCE) £600

*Legal Aid is only available for non-imprisonable motoring offences in exceptional circumstances. We can help you determine your eligibility for Legal Aid to fund your case and also assist you in any application for Legal Aid.

** All fees above are exclusive of VAT which will be applied at 20%.

All fees are payable in full prior to any hearing

Fees in respect of all other legal services/courts/hearings not detailed above are available upon request

Disbursements

The cost of any disbursements required in your case (for example, Expert/Medical Reports) will be payable by you in addition to the above fees.  Any disbursement costs will be agreed with you prior to incurring these.  Should you require any further information in this respect, please contact us. 

Cases at the Crown Court

Applying for Legal Aid in the Crown Court can be a complicated process that our experienced solicitors and paralegals will assist you with. Once a case reaches Crown Court, Legal Aid is generally available for most cases if you qualify under the means test. If you have an above average income or any assets, you may have to pay contributions to the Court or pay privately for the cost of your representation.

Time Scales

Most straightforward motoring cases at the Magistrates Court conclude within 6 months.  However cases could take longer depending on various factors including Court Listing (and whether any case is sent to the Crown Court for Trial or Sentence). 

Who will conduct your work?

Your case will be dealt with by our team of experienced Paralegals, Police Station Representatives, Solicitors, Solicitor Advocates, Legal Executives and Legal Executive Advocates. Our team has over 100 years of collective experience in delivering high quality work in all matters relating to Criminal Defence. 

You will be represented at Court by a suitably qualified Solicitor, Solicitor Advocate, Legal Executive Advocate and/or Barrister.  

All staff involved in your case will be supervised by a lawyer of equivalent or superior qualification and/or experience.  

Our staff and their qualifications are detailed below.  

Hourly rates and Grades of Fee Earner at OWN Solicitors

In accordance with government guidelines, staff at OWN Solicitors can be categorised as follows.  Usual hourly rates for each grade are also detailed, which are set at the guideline rate for the geographical area (National 1) :

The job titles and qualifications of fee earners at OWN Solicitors are detailed below:

FEE EARNERS AT OWN SOLICITORS
Partners:
Kirsty Wright BA(Hons) FCILEx (CLAS/Duty Qualified Chartered Legal Executive Advocate )	Grade A
Caroline Snodgrass	Grade A
Solicitor-Advocates:
Matthew Nash LLB	Grade A
Steve Garratt LLB Chris Fairweather Nick Cotter	Grade A Grade A Grade A
Solicitors:
Tolu Agbebi LLB	Grade A
Caroline Snodgrass LLB	Grade A
Harriet Burke LLM	Grade C
Sara Ahmed	Grade C
Tiff Whillis	Grade A
Paralegals:
Tasnim Salauddin	Grade D
Leanne Boswell	Grade D

What is included in your fixed fee?

Any fixed fee detailed above will take into account the qualification and experience of the lawyer representing you.   We will send you a “client care” letter at the outset of your matter notifying you of the individual/s responsible for conduct of your case.  Staff at OWN Solicitors are detailed below.

Your fixed fee includes:

• All attendance and preparation relating to the hearing including:
  • considering evidence
  • taking your instructions
  • providing advice on likely sentence
• Attendance and representation at a single hearing at the Magistrates Court

The fees above do not usually include:

• instruction of any expert witnesses/any other disbursements
• taking statements from any additional witnesses not identified to us at the time you instruct us.
• advice or assistance in relation to any appeal

Key Stages in your case

Key stages in your matter include the following:

• Meeting (or having a detailed telephone consultation) with a member of our team solicitor for you to provide instructions on what happened.
• Consideration of initial disclosure, and any other evidence and provisional advice.
• Arranging to take any witness statements (if necessary) either over the telephone or in person.
• Explaining the court procedure to you so you know what to expect on the day of your hearing, and (if relevant) the sentencing options available to the court.
• We cannot provide a timescale of when your hearing will take place, as this depends on the court listing for that day.
• Attending at court on the day and meet with you before going before the court. We anticipate being at court for [e.g. half a day].
• Discussing the outcome with you. If advice is required on appeal, this will carry an additional cost.