Family or civil fee rates

The following hourly rates apply to legal aid services performed in family or civil law proceedings effective from 1 July 2022 (GST exclusive).

 Level of experience
Proceedings category
(see below for full explanation of categories)
Other
($/hr)
Level 1
($/hr)
Level 2
($/hr)
Level 3
($/hr)
FC1 (Other tribunal/judicial authority)   103 130 139
FC2 (Family Court, District Court, …)   119 134 150
FC3 (High Court)   134 150 167
FC4 (Court of Appeal/Supreme Court)   146 161 178
Travel time (pre-5 November 2012)   48 58 68
Travel time (post-5 November 2012 Disbursement Policy) 63      
Supervised Providers 103      
Employment advocates 92      
Qualified legal executives 82      
Non qualified legal executives / paralegals 72      
Law clerks 72      

Forum categories

FC 1 – Any tribunal or judicial authority not included in any other category.

FC 2 – Family Court, District Court (including any mental health hearing before a District Court judge), Environment Court, Maori Land Court.

FC 3 – High Court, Maori Appellate Court, Waitangi Tribunal, Employment Court.

FC 4 – Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

Level of experience

Level 1 – A person with up to 4 complete years of litigation experience.

Level 2 – A person with at least 4 and up to 9 complete years of litigation experience.

Level 3 – A person with at least 9 complete years of litigation experience.

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