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Our TMC Team

 

Muazzam Chughtai – Principal Solicitor

Muazzam has vast experience in legal practice and he is a Grade A Solicitor of England and Wales. He specialises in all areas of UK immigration and he deals with highly complex matters on an everyday basis. He originally qualified overseas in 2003 and qualified as a Solicitor of England and Wales in 2010. His vast and extended legal practice is beneficial to the clients which answers the high success rates the TMC Solicitors maintains in almost all areas of the UK immigration practice.

In addition to his Immigration Law Practice, in which he specialises, Muazzam gained a pre and post qualification experience in the criminal defence matters whilst working in a criminal defence law firm based in West Yorkshire.

 

Ishtiaq Ahmed – Consultant Solicitor Advocate

He was called to the Bar by The Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn on October 15, 1999, and subsequently admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in 2000. He has earned with extensive experience a commendable reputation among legal practitioners, demonstrating success in complex legal matters that demand meticulous examination.

As a proficient advocate, he has participated in over 2000 court hearings across the United Kingdom, showcasing excellent communication skills in both oral and written capacities. His court appearances range from Magistrates to Crown Courts, with noteworthy expertise in Local Authority Taxi Licensing Committee Hearings.

He specializes in Road Traffic Offences work and Taxi licensing matters, maintaining a proactive approach by staying informed about legal developments in these areas. He upholds a strong work ethic, demonstrating diligence, self-discipline, and a belief in the importance of effective time management.

 

Yasar Malik – Solicitor

Yasar graduated with an LLB Law Honors degree prior to completing his Legal Practice Course at Staffordshire University. Yasar is a qualified Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales, with legal experience covering a range of distinctions including general Litigation, general Immigration, Landlord/Tenant matters, and Private Client Work. He is experienced in dealing with a broad spectrum of clients from differing cultural and ethnic backgrounds. He has around 7 years’ worth of experience in legal casework and representation.

A seasoned advocate, Yasar is no stranger to courtroom representation, where his strong advocacy skills and calm demeanour ensure that his clients are well-represented in legal proceedings. His commitment to securing favourable outcomes is matched by his strategic and meticulous approach to case preparation, ensuring every aspect of a case is thoroughly addressed. Yasar often assists Mr Ahmed in Motoring Law matters.  

 

Muhammad Waseem Assi – Solicitor

He has studied from some renowned institution in UK, The University of Glasgow, The Kaplan Law School, BPP and The University of Law. Recently, Waseem was Called to Bar from The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn in November 2021, and he is unregistered Barrister. He had immense experience in legal field. As he has been working as an Advocate Solicitor from last few years.

He is a bright, hardworking and dedicated solicitor offers compassionate representation to people navigating the complex requirements of legal immigration matters. He passionate about helping clients and their families and loved ones to achieve the very best outcomes following immigration matters. Waseem’s breadth of knowledge and experience expands the spectrum of immigration matters. With a special interest in Human Rights, Asylum, Nationality & Citizenship and numerous general immigration matters, Waseem has over 7 years’ experience dealing with civil and criminal cases at national and international level. 

Wasem gets to know his clients as individuals, to understand their personal and family/ social circumstances, their needs and wants, and he will always look to maximise clients’ recovery, quality of life and well-being.

He is multilingual and speaks Urdu, Punjabi, Mirpuri, Hindi, and other few local languages.

Waseem’s legal experience expands to Motoring law matters. He often attends hearings at the Magistrates Court in Road Traffic Offence’s matter and assists Mr Ahmed who leads the Motoring Law Department at the TMC Solicitors. 

 

Zoya Ali – Senior Case Worker

Zoya graduated with a Law (LLB) Honours degree from the University of Law. She is presently a Senior Caseworker at the firm and has vast experience in UK Immigration law. Zoya brings with her over 06 years of experience in the private immigration sector. She has dealt with a range of complex cases and has a proven track record of achieving successful outcomes for her clients. Zoya works tirelessly to ensure that her clients receive the best possible legal representation. She is also committed to ensuring highest levels of client satisfaction.

 

Rahmah Ali – Caseworker

 

Rahmah is a Law graduate and has been working with TMC Solicitors since 2020, she is currently working in the position of Senior Caseworker. Whilst experienced in family and tourist visas, in recent years she has specialised in cases presenting complex immigration aspects and history. She works on a variety of immigration applications and has obtained vast experience on challenging cases. Rahmah enjoys working with clients and admires seeing their happiness once they receive their wanted results. Rahmah speaks English, Kurdish and Arabic, she has therefore been able to assist many clients with language barriers.

 

Waheed Irfan – Caseworker

Waheed Irfan is a Registered Foreign Lawyer (RFL), he commenced his legal education at Rawalpindi Law College, where he excelled academically and eventually earned his legal practicing certificate in Pakistan. He continued his education by earning an LLM in International Business Law from the University of Bolton. This postgraduate legal education paved his proficiency in the vital nexus of law, business, and finance.

He is currently working with TMC Solicitors as a Caseworker. His experience includes working on a wide range of immigration applications, obtaining sponsorship licences, and supporting Level 1 users or the authorising officer in using the SMS portal. He has also gained extensive experience in difficult instances. In challenging circumstances, he remains professional, demonstrates resilience, and assesses, recognises, and empathises with the service users' areas of need.

 

Enia Al Khadiri – Caseworker

Enia is a graduate with an LLB Law with a business Honors degree from Kingston University. She successfully completed a Masters in Immigration Law and currently completing her Legal Practice Course at The University of Law, alongside working with TMC Solicitors. Enia has previously assisted in the provision of free advice by volunteering at Working Families and Citizen Advice Bureau organizations. She assisted clients in dealing with simple immigration and Family matters, such as information on how to renew indefinite leave to remain, bringing dependants from overseas, provided divorce applications, provided information about separation and children matters. Enia also has knowledge on how to deal with debts and benefits.

Costs Information in Immigration Law Services

 

VAT Notice:

All our legal fees are subject to Value Added Tax (VAT) at the current rate of 20%, unless otherwise stated. VAT charge is applicable where the client is already in the UK with current or a previous immigration permission. Whether the VAT is applicable or not, will be specified at the time of instructing the firm and in subsequent client care letter.

Interpreter Fees:

Where an interpreter is required for initial consultation and subsequent progression of your immigration matter, the interpreter costs are approximately £30–£35 plus VAT per hour, subject to the availability of a qualified interpreter in the required language. Some rare language interpreters may cost higher. Most of the interpreter companies would bill for minimum of one hour for their interpretation services. In some cases, the firm may have someone available inhouse who could interpret where necessary. In such cases, there will be no separate charge for interpretation. If you decide not to use our in-house interpretation, then the charge will still be applicable for instructing external interpreters.

Translation Fees:

Home Office- UK Visas and Immigration and the Tribunals would require certified English translation of the supporting documents and evidence. If your original documents such as marriage certificate, birth certificates and other evidence is in foreign language, the certified translation costs will be applicable. Translation companies usually do not provide a translation service quote unless the required documents are forwarded to them.

 

Initial Advice – Fixed Fee

We offer a fixed fee initial advice on Personal Immigration Matters, which includes determining eligibility for making immigration applications or challenging negative outcomes in Admin Review, Appeals and Judicial Reviews.

Our initial Advice Fee: Ranges from £250 + VAT (if applicable) to £500 + VAT (if applicable)

  • Factors impacting our Fee: Complexity of a specific legal matter and the level of Advisor required.
  • Level of Advisor: Principal Solicitor, Associate Solicitors, Assistant Solicitor or Immigration Caseworker under the supervision of a Principal Solicitor. Complex cases are required to be arranged exclusively with the Principal Solicitor.
  • Scope of Work:
    • Face-to-face, video, telephone, or email consultations.
    • Reviewing documents and taking formal instructions.
    • Advising on available options, eligibility, and likelihood of success.
  • Written Advise:

If our oral advice in the formal consultation is required in writing, then additional £200 plus VAT (if applicable) applies on top of applicable initial advise fixed fee.

Please refer to our detailed terms and conditions. Our costs for initial advice are billed separately and are not refundable.

 

Immigration Law Services – Hourly Rate

Our Immigration Law Services are billed on the basis of hourly rate.

We split each hour into 10 units of 06 minutes and when we calculate our fees on hourly rate, we follow the unit calculation. If a particular work is less than 06 minutes, this is rounded up to one unit.

Upon confirmation of your instructions to the firm, we will provide an estimate for the work we are instructed to carry out. Our time estimation in completing your matter is based on a review of your instructions, level of solicitor or advisor, and experience of handling similar matters. Please note that in some cases, matters can become protracted beyond reasonable foresight. Where this happens, further fees would become payable for any additional work commissioned by our firm. However, we will endeavour to advise you about this, prior to incurring such additional costs.

 

Current Hourly Rates

Grade & Experience Hourly Rate VAT (20%) Total
Senior/Principal Solicitor 10+ years’ experience £350 £70 £360
Associate Solicitors 7+ years’ experience £300 £50 £350
Assistant Solicitors 1+ year experience £250 £50 £300
Caseworkers under supervision of Principal Solicitor £200 £40 £240

 

Further Information on Estimated Hours of Work

  • Number of hours required to complete your application depends on the particular circumstances of your case. It depends on the number of supporting documents required under the immigration rules and Home Office-UKVI published policies. At the outset of the matter, we will try our best to provide you with a cost estimate based on our experience of handling the similar matters. If you are able to provide a well-organised sufficient evidence at the start of the matter, these costs are likely to be in the lower end of this range.
  • On average a non-complex immigration application takes between 6-12 hours to complete. If the legal costs are calculated on the hourly rate of an Associate Solicitor, it could be between £1800-£3600 plus 20% VAT if applicable. However, it is a usual practice at the firm that a caseworker or a paralegal assists the solicitors in immigration applications to keep the costs to the minimum. Therefore, our legal fee estimates below reflect the approximate costs based on combined hourly rates of a solicitor and a paralegal.
  • Where a client wants a specific solicitor to complete work on their application from start to end, the costs are likely to increase significantly and will be dependant on the hourly rate of the specified solicitor.  

Fee Estimates for Permission to Stay (Leave to Remain) Applications made in the UK

All our legal fees are subject to Value Added Tax (VAT) at the current rate of 20%, unless otherwise stated. Your permission to stay application is likely to incur VAT, unless you did not have an immigration status in the UK.

 

Work Based Applications

Application Type        Legal Fee                         VAT (20%)              Total                                  Estimated Hours

 

Application Type Legal Fee VAT (20%) Total Estimated Hours
Skilled Worker Applications £1200-£1500 £240-£300 £1440-£1800  6-8 hours
Skilled Worker Extension Applications £1200-£1500 £240-£300 £1440-£1800 6-8 hours
Skilled Worker

Licence Applications

£1500-£1800 £300-£360 £1800-£2160 8-10 hours
Youth Mobility Visa Applications £1200-£1500

 

£240-£300 £1440-£1800 6-8 hours
Graduate Route Visa Applications £1200-£1500 £240-£300 £1440-£1800 6-8 hours

 

Study Applications

 

Application Type Legal Fee VAT (20%) Total Estimated Hours
Student Extension Visa Applications £1000-£1200 £200-£240 £1200-£1440 5-7 hours

 

Family Based Applications

 

Application Type Legal Fee VAT (20%) Total Estimated Hours
Spouse Visa Extension Applications £1200-£1500 £240-£300 £1440-£1800 6-8 hours
Leave to Remain Applications (Family and Private Life) £1200-£1500 £240-£300 £1440-£1800 6-8 hours
Leave to Remain

Applications (20 years long Residence)

£2000-£2400 £400-£480 £2400-£2880 10-12 hours
Discretionary Leave to Remain Applications £1500-£1800 £300-£360 £1800-£2160 8-10 hours
Indefinite Leave to Remain Applications £1500-£1800 £300-£360 £1800-£2160 8-10 hours

 

EU Nationals and Family Members of EU Nationals

 

Application Type Legal Fee VAT (20%) Total Estimated Hours
EUSS Pre settled

Status Applications

£1000-£1200 £200-£240 £1200-£1440 5-7 hours
EUSS Retain Rights Applications £1000-£1200 £200-£240 £1200-£1440 5-7 hours
EUSS Settled Status Applications £1000-£1200 £200-£240 £1200-£1440 5-7 hours

 

Other Miscellaneous Applications

 

Application Type Legal Fee VAT (20%) Total Estimated Hours
Domestic Violence ILR Applications £2000-£2500 £400-£500 £2400-£3000 10-13 hours

 

Fee Estimates for Permission to Enter (Entry Clearance) Applications made outside the UK

Permission to Enter or Entry Clearance Applications are usually not subject to Value Added Tax (VAT). However, we will confirm this at the time of accepting your instructions. Where applicable, the current VAR rate is 20%.

 

Visit Visa Applications

 

Application Type Legal Fee   Total Estimated Hours
Visit Visa Applications £1000-£1200   £1000-£1200 5-8 hours
Marriage Visitor Visa Applications £1000-£1200   £1000-£1200

5-8 hours

 

Work Based Applications

 

Application Type Legal Fee   Total Estimated Hours
Entry Clearence Skilled Worker Visa

Applications

£1200-£1400   £1200-£1400 6-8 hours
Entry Clearnce Global mobility Visa

Applications

£1500-£1800   £1500-£1800 8-10 hours
Youth Mobility Visa Applications £1200-£1400   £1200-£1400 6-8 hours

 

Study Based Applications

 

Application Type Legal Fee   Total Estimated Hours
Student Visa Applications £1000-£1200   £1000-£1200 5-8 hours

 

Family Based Applications

 

Application Type Legal Fee   Total Estimated Hours
Fiancée or Spouse Visa Applications £1200-£1400   £1200-£1400 6-8 hours
Adult Dependent Visa Applications £2000-£2500   £2000-£2500 13-15 hours
Child Dependent Visa Applications £1200-£1500   £1200-£1500 6-8 hours
Ancestry Visa Applications £1500-£1800   £1500-£1800 8-10 hours

 

Fee Estimates for Settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain) Applications

All our legal fees are subject to Value Added Tax (VAT) at the current rate of 20%, unless otherwise stated.

 

Application Type Legal Fee VAT (20%) Total Estimated Hours
Indefinite Leave to Remain Applications £1200-£1500 £240-£300 £1440-£1800 6-8 hours
Indefinite Leave to

Remain Application 10 years Route

£1500-£1800 £300-£360 £1800-£2160 8-10 hours
No Time Limit Applications £1000-£1200 £200-£240 £1200-£1440 6-8 hours

 

Fee Estimates for Nationality Applications

All our legal fees are subject to Value Added Tax (VAT) at the current rate of 20%, unless otherwise stated.

 

Application Type Legal Fee VAT (20%) Total Estimated Hours
Naturalisation Applications £1000-£1200 £200-£240 £1200-£1440 5-7 hours
Child British

Citizenship Registration Applications

£1000-£1200 £200-£240 £1200-£1440 5-7 hours

 

What services are included:

Our fees for making above applications will include:

  • Discussing your circumstances in detail;
  • Considering supporting evidence;
  • Advising on further supporting evidence that you should provide;
  • Advising on the requirements of the relevant Immigration Rules or British Nationality Laws and whether you are able to meet the criteria;
  • Considering and confirming whether this is the most appropriate application for you to make and what other options may be available to you;
  • If you do not fulfil certain criteria at the time of instructions, whether you will be able to meet the requirements in future;
  • Completing the relevant UKVI application forms and preparing the DRAFT application for your approval.
  • Submitting your application to the UKVI.
  • Booking your biometric enrolment appointments.
  • Uploading the supporting documents to the available portal.
  • Drafting and uploading our letter of representations.

 

The following are not included in our fees above:

  • Any disbursements - Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as Home Office visa fees, expert fees, interpretation and translation fees.
  • Where further evidence is required such as expert reports and we have to send a letter of instructions to the experts.
  • Where medical records are required and we have to liaise with the medical professionals such as GP practice.
  • Advising on the interviews if the Home Office decides to invites to attend an interview.
  • Any Home Office fees and health surcharge for making the application. You will pay this to the Home Office directly as part of the application process. See link below for the Home Office current fees and health surcharge.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visa-regulations-revised-table/home-office-immigration-and-nationality-fees-11-december-2024

https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application/how-much-pay

  • Where the Home Office refuses your application, advice and assistance in relation to any appeal or admin review
  • Where the Home Office has unnecessarily delayed making a decision on your application and we have to extensively chase them up.
  • Any interpreter costs or certified translation costs, which are paid as separate disbursements
  • Where a barrister opinion is required to address a particular legal issue at the application stage.

 

How long will my application take?

We cannot guarantee how long the Home Office will take to process your application. Please read the current processing times on the UKVI website

(https://www.gov.uk/guidance/visa-processing-times-applications-outside-the-uk)

and (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/visa-processing-times-applications-inside-the-uk)

 

We will normally be able to submit your application within 2 weeks, upon receipt of all the supporting information and documents. We will let you know if your application is likely to take longer than 2 weeks. If we are waiting for supporting documents from you, then your application is likely to be delayed until we have all the documents from you and have had a chance to review those.

Please note the anticipated number of hours and fees are an estimate based on the facts above. All applications are likely to vary and of course, we can give you a more accurate estimate once we have more information about your specific case.

 

Remedies upon unsuccessful applications

If your application is unsuccessful, it will likely have the following remedies:

  • Administrative Review to the Home Office where a different and often a senior caseworker will review the refusal decision.
  • Statutory Appeal before the First Tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chambers)

In some circumstances, there will be no right of appeal or administrative review. In some cases, even after the Administrative Review outcome a client may not be happy with the outcome. Where this happens, then there is a public law remedy of Judicial Review if the Home Office decision(s) are unlawful, unfair, unreasonable and irrational. Judicial Review is a complex legal matter and our costs depend on the estimated hours of work and disbursement. Therefore, we advise on Judicial Review costs at the point of instructions, because not every case has merits to take this remedy.

 

Administrative Review – Fixed Fee or Hourly Rate

We offer a choice of hourly rate and fixed fee to our clients.

Our legal costs for advising and making Administrative Review application to the Home Office are in the region of £800-£1200 plus VAT @ 20% (if applicable).

On average, completing Admin Review application, legal research and drafting grounds for Administrative Review would take 3-5 hours to complete.

The cost includes:

  • Discussion on the reasons for refusal;
  • Taking your instructions against the reasons for refusal;
  • Legal research relevant to the case;
  • Preparing online application for Administrative Review;
  • Drafting Grounds for Administrative Review;
  • Submitting Administrative Review application online to the Home Office;
  • Sending any supporting documents to the Home Office Administrative Review team;

Potential disbursements:

  • Home Office Administrative Review fees – currently £80.00 no VAT.

Timescales:

We have no control on the Home Office time scales on processing Administrative Review applications. Statutory time for decision on Administrative Review decisions is 28 days however Home Office currently has significant delays and decisions could take several months.

Immigration (Non-Asylum) Appeal Fees – Fixed Fee or Hourly Rate

Human Rights Based Applications attract a statutory right of appeal to the First Tier Tribunal. If you have been granted a right of appeal, then the appeal process comprised of the following steps:

  1. the notice and grounds of appeal are lodged in the Tribunal
  2. Appellants are required to pay the court fees for hearing which is £140 no VAT per Appellant
  3. the Home Office then submits their appeal bundle within 28 days
  4. we prepare appeal bundle with witness statements and skeleton arguments
  1. the case is then reviewed and reconsidered by the Home Office within 14 days
  2. if the review outcome is positive and the Home Office decides to withdraw their decision then they inform the Tribunal accordingly.
  3. if the review outcome is negative then a hearing is listed at the First-tier Tribunal, before an Immigration Judge
  4. In oral hearings, a barrister will attend the hearing and present the case to the immigration judge.
  5. Witnesses are required to attend the hearing to give evidence.
  6. Immigration Judge will provide written determinations usually within 2-4 weeks.

 

Our Appeal fees are based on the anticipated time that an average case of similar complexity would take. It is not possible to provide the exact number of hours and costs. On average an appeal process may involve 15-25 hours of work. It depends on:

  • The complexity of the issues involved
  • The amount of supporting evidence that we need to consider
  • The number of witnesses in the appeal

 

For convenience, we divide the above steps (i)-(ix) in 3 stages, where (i)-(iii) forms stage 1, (ii)-(v) is stage 2, hearing preparations and the hearing itself is stage 3.

The appeal may be listed for Case Management Hearing (CMR) by the tribunal before the final and substantive hearing to resolve the interim issues such as requirement of interpreter, required number of hours for the hearing and to narrow down the issues to be determined in the substantive appeal hearing.

Our appeal fixed fees for all three stages are between £3000 to £4000 Plus VAT @ 20%. (if applicable) Our fees include counsel fees to represent you at one hearing. Most of appeals are concluded at one hearing. However, if the appeal is adjourned due to any reason, then it may incur further fees for counsel to attend the subsequent hearing(s).

If the case is listed for CMR we will separately bill £300 plus VAT @ 20% (if applicable) for each CMR hearing attended.

Potential disbursements and additional costs:

  • Appeal fees – currently £140 for oral hearing / £80 for paper hearing. VAT does not apply
  • Translation of documents if required.
  • Interpreters’ fees, if required for preparation of your appeal.
  • Expert fees, such as country experts, medical experts, psychologists, social workers etc.
  • Any other disbursements / payments, made to the third parties necessary for your case
  • Conference with counsel, prior to the hearing, which is agreed with their clerks and billed separately.
  • You should have an opportunity to speak to the counsel on the date of hearing, which is included in our fees.

 

Permission to Appeal to First Tier Tribunal – Fixed Fee

If the appeal is decided against you then you have the right to apply for permission to appeal to the First Tier Tribunal if the appeal decision contains error of law.

We will assess the merits for any Permission to Appeal application and advise you accordingly. If you decide to apply for permission to appeal to the First Tier Tribunal our legal fees would range between

£1000 to £1500 plus VAT @ 20% (if applicable)

 

Permission to Appeal to Upper Tribunal – Fixed Fee

If First Tier Tribunal refuses the permission application then you have a right to apply for permission to appeal to the Upper Tribunal. We will assess the merits and advise further at that stage. If you

decide to apply for permission to appeal to the Upper Tribunal our legal fees would £1000-£1500 plus VAT @ 20% (if applicable)

If the Upper Tribunal refused Permission to Appeal, then the statutory appeal rights will be exhausted.

If your appeal is successful, the Home Office can also make a permission to appeal applications to the First Tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal.

 

Permission Granted

If either First Tier Tribunal or Upper Tribunal grants permission to appeal (whether the permission application was made by you or the Home Office) the Upper Tribunal will list a permission hearing to determine whether to overturn the decision of the First Tier Tribunal.

Our costs for permission hearing including the counsel fees for one hearing will be £1500-£2000 plus VAT @ 20% (if applicable)

If Upper Tribunal finds error of law, it may either relist a substantive hearing before itself or remit the appeal back to the First Tier Tribunal for fresh hearing. Our legal fees for fresh hearing including counsel fees for one hearing will be £2000-£2500 plus VAT @ 20% (if applicable)

If the Upper Tribunal lists substantive hearing before itself then our costs for one hearing will be £1500-

£2000 plus VAT @ 20% (if applicable) including counsel representation.

 

 

Motoring Law Fee Guide

We offer a fixed-fee arrangement for our legal costs in the Motoring Law Cases, as an affordable and cost-effective solution to obtaining the best advice possible, with no hidden costs.

Level of Fixed Fee:

Our fixed fee will depend on a variety of factors, including but not limited to:

  • The nature and complexity of the charges involved.
  • The geographic location of the court.
  • The applicable sentencing guidelines and their starting points.
  • Your intended plea (guilty or not guilty).
  • The estimated number and duration of court hearings.
  • The level of representative required to handle your case.

VAT Notice:

All our legal fees are subject to Value Added Tax (VAT) at the current rate of 20%,

What is included in the Fixed Fee (Guilty Plea Cases):

Our fixed fees typically include the following key stages:

  • Information Gathering: Obtaining case details from the Police or Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
  • Case Analysis: Conducting a detailed legal review and analysis of your case.
  • Advice on Plea and Mitigation: Providing comprehensive guidance on your plea options, mitigation strategies, and the likely sentence, including any potential challenges to the evidence presented.
  • Representation at Magistrates Court (single hearing): Advocating on your behalf during the court hearing by a Specialist Advocate.

What is not included in the Fixed Fee (Guilty Plea Cases):

The following services are not included in the fixed-fee arrangement:

  • Expert Witness Costs: Any required expert witnesses will provide cost estimates for your approval before being instructed.
  • Witness Statements: Drafting or taking witness statements incurs additional costs.
  • Exceptional Hardship or Special Reasons Hearings: Representation for these hearings is charged separately.
  • Appeals: Advice, preparation, and representation for appeals are not included in the original fixed fee.

Disbursements

Disbursements are additional costs associated with third parties such as expert witness fees. It is not possible for us to provide an estimate of disbursements because it will depend on the level of expertise and qualification of an expert. However, to maintain transparency we will notify you of any such costs before they are incurred, ensuring that you remain in full control of your expenses.


Timelines and Scheduling

Initial Advice

  • Same-Day Appointments: We can often provide same-day consultations via Microsoft Teams or telephone for urgent initial advice.
  • Comprehensive Advice: This depends on the availability of prosecution papers, which are typically provided by the CPS five days before the hearing.

Court Hearings

  • The scheduling of hearings is controlled by the court system and varies depending on their caseloads, the court’s location, and the priority assigned to your case. We will provide updates as soon as the court issues a hearing date.

Stages in Your Motoring Law Matter

The following are the key stages involved in your case, assuming a guilty plea and a hearing date have been scheduled:

  • Initial Consultation: Meeting with your solicitor to discuss and provide instructions.
  • Disclosure Review: Obtaining, analysing, and reviewing disclosure materials and any other relevant case information.
  • Legal Analysis: Conducting a detailed review and legal analysis of the case to formulate strategies.
  • Witness Statement: Arranging to take any witness statements if necessary [this will have an additional cost of £500 plus 20% VAT).
  • Advice on Plea and Sentencing: Advising on your plea, mitigation options, and sentencing, including challenges to evidence or procedures.
  • Court Procedure Guidance: Explaining the court process and sentencing options to ensure you are fully prepared.
  • Case Preparation: Conducting all necessary preparatory work, addressing your questions, and clarifying uncertainties.
  • Court Representation: Advocating on your behalf at the Magistrates’ Court. Meetings will be held prior to the hearing, and our time at court may range from one hour to a full day.
  • Outcome Report: Providing a detailed written report on the court’s decision and offering advice on any potential appeals.

Please note we cannot provide a timescale of when your hearing will take place, as this depends on the court listing for that day.

Motoring Offences Fees Schedule

Penalty points speeding (guilty plea)

Between £1000 to £1200 (plus 20% VAT) for written representations by post

Totting up 12 penalty points (guilty plea, exceptional hardship)

Between £2500 and £3000 (plus 20% VAT)

Speeding offences where there is a risk of disqualification (guilty plea)

Between £2500 and £3000 ((plus 20% VAT)

Drink and drug driving (guilty plea)

Between £2500 and £3000 (plus 20% VAT)

Failing to provide a specimen (guilty plea)

Between £2500 and £3000 (plus 20% VAT)

Drink driving/drug driving (not guilty)

Between £3500 and £5000 (plus 20% VAT)

Failure to provide a specimen (not guilty)

Between £3500 and £5000 (plus 20% VAT)

Our fixed fees above do not include the following, unless we have agreed otherwise at the outset of accepting instructions:

  • VAT charged at 20%;
  • Our fees associated with obtaining an Expert Evidence;
  • Expert witness attendance at the Court;
  • Our fees associated with drafting written legal argument and making formal applications;
  • Our fees associated with Case Management Hearings;
  • Our fees associated with more than a single day attendance at court. If additional hearings are required due to adjournments, discounted fees will apply and will be agreed upon in advance.
  • Any fees associated with obtaining written advice from Counsel in respect of prospects of appeal.

Where any of the above are advisable, an additional fixed fee will be arranged per item in advance.

Adverse Costs and Penalties

It will be the responsibility of the client, being a defendant, to pay any financial penalty imposed by the Court (such as victim surcharge and CPS costs etc)

Defence Costs Order

Court can grant a Defendant Cost Order if you are successful in defending criminal allegation brought by the Police or Crown Prosecution Service. However, recoverable costs are capped at Legal Aid rates which are fairly lower than a private representation. We can assist in preparing and submitting your cost application. The proportion of recoverable costs will be agreed upon in advance of our work.


Payment Plans

We recognise that the legal representation in Motoring Law could be a significant expense. To ensure access to justice, we offer flexible payment plans tailored to your needs. Speak with our Client Coordinator to discuss instalment options or other payment arrangements

Hourly Rate

In some cases, the client may wish to instruct us on the basis of an hourly rate or there is insufficient case information for us to offer a fixed fee. In such cases, the rate at which you will be charged is set out below: –

Senior Solicitor and Advocates  – £400 per hour plus 20% VAT

Associate Solicitors  – £350 per hour plus 20% VAT

Assistant Solicitors – £300 per hour plus 20% VAT

Billing Guidelines (Hourly Rate):

  • The total number of hours required varies by case complexity. On average, a case may require 10 to 20 hours of work.
  • Hourly fees cover court representation, client consultations, case preparation, and other necessary legal work.
  • Travel and waiting time are billed at 50% of the hourly rate.
  • Mileage is charged at £0.45 plus VAT (20%) per mile, measuring from our Manchester office.

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Get In Touch

0208 124 3222

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