HSR Solicitors provides services to those who have been charged with any of the following motoring offences.
Legal Aid is not available for the majority of motoring offences, including but not limited to:
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- Drink driving
- Drug driving
- Driving without Insurance
- Driving without MOT
- Driving whilst disqualified
- Driving without due care and attention
- Driving whilst using a mobile phone or handheld device
- Failing to provide information to identify the driver of a vehicle
- Failure to provide a specimen
- Failing to stop/report after an accident
- Fixed penalty notices
- Road rage incidents
- Speeding offences
- Traffic light offences
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Our approach to client service and cost structure sets us apart from other local firms. We offer complete transparency over fixed fees, though we can also provide an hourly rate depending on your needs.
VAT
We will add VAT to all fees and disbursements detailed at the rate that applies when the work is carried is done. At present VAT is 20%.
We can enter into hourly rate fees with you which are as follows:
HOURLY RATES OF FEE EARNERS
| Grade of Fee Earner | Hourly rate | VAT 20% | Total |
| Solicitors with 8 years’ experience | £350.00 | £70.00 | £420.00 |
| Solicitors with over 4 years’ experience | £275.00 | £55.00 | £330.00 |
| Other Solicitors | £225.00 | £45.00 | £270.00 |
| Trainee solicitors | £175.00 | £35.00 | £210.00 |
| Paralegals | £125.00 | £25.00 |
The above rates will be applied to all work carried out by us to prepare your case. This will include applying to the CPS to obtain your case papers (IDPC), considering and reviewing the evidence in your case, taking your instructions, taking statements from witnesses, liaising with the Police, Prosecution and Court. Counsel’s fees (Barrister) and disbursements (costs or expenses payable to third parties) will be charged on top of the fees specified above.
Counsel Fees (Barrister) will be in a range of £500.00 – £1500.00 Plus VAT per hearing depending on seniority of counsel, the amount of evidence to be considered, amount of court hearings and length of trial.
Disbursements (known as expenses) may include but not limited to and range from travel costs to expert witnesses such as Medical, Doctors, Psychiatric and Toxicology, BACK Calculation, Motor vehicle and Cell site. The costs for any expert witnesses will vary depending on the type of expert required and the scope of work given, this can range from £500.00 – £5000.00 plus VAT. Should an expert be required to attend Court their fees will range from approximately £50.00 – £350.00 plus VAT per hour. Travel costs to court will be charged at 45p per mile plus VAT. All disbursements would be subject to VAT at a rate of 20%
FIXED FEE ARRANGEMENT
Where representation at court is required, you may prefer us to fix our fees so that you have peace of mind about mounting costs. These will always be agreed with you in advance and we will explain every cost involved at the outset. No matter the circumstances, your case will be reviewed by a lawyer and never a paralegal.
GUILTY PLEA
| Type/Number of Hearings | Fee Range |
| Guilty Plea with one hearing | £750.00 – £1500.00 plus VAT, plus Disbursements |
| Guilty Plea with more than one hearing | £750.00 – £1500.00 plus VAT, plus Disbursements for first hearing.
£750.00 plus VAT, plus disbursements per each subsequent hearing. |
(VAT at 20%)
Fee includes:
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- Up to 2 hours attendance/preparation:
- Considering evidence
- Taking your instructions
- Providing advice on likely sentence
- Attendance and representation at a single hearing at the Magistrates Court
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The fee does not include:
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- Instruction of any expert witnesses
- Taking statements from any witnesses
- Advice and assistance in relation to a special reasons hearing
- Advice or assistance in relation to any appeal
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In addition to the above fixed fees the following may also apply:
Disbursements (known as expenses) may include but not limited to and range from travel costs to expert witnesses such as Medical, Doctors, Psychiatric and Toxicology, BACK Calculation, Motor vehicle and Cell site. The costs for any expert witnesses will vary depending on the type of expert required and the scope of work given, this can range from £500.00 – £5000.00 plus VAT. Should an expert be required to attend Court their fees will range from approximately £50.00 – £350.00 plus VAT per hour. Travel costs to court will be charged at 45p per mile plus VAT. All disbursements would be subject to VAT at a rate of 20%
The key stages of your matter are based on the presumption that you have entered a guilty plea and have a date for your hearing.
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- Meet with your solicitor to provide instructions on what happened.
- We will consider initial disclosure, and any other evidence and provide advice.
- Arranging to take any witness statements if necessary (this will have an additional cost dependant on the complexity of the case and the level of fee earner dealing with the matter..
- We will explain the court procedure to you so you know what to expect on the day of your hearing, and the sentencing options available to the court.
- We will conduct any further preparatory work, obtain further instructions from you if necessary and answer any follow up queries you have.
- We cannot provide a timescale of when your hearing will take place, as this depends on the court listing for that day.
- We will attend court on the day and meet with you before going before the court. We anticipate being at court for up to half a day, depending on the court list.
- We will discuss the outcome with you. If advice is required on appeal, this will carry an additional cost.
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NOT GUILTY PLEA
Fees for a Not Guilty Plea are the same as the above plus any additional hearings, trial preparation and attending your trial in the Magistrates court. Our typical range of fees are as follows:
| Type/Number of Hearings | Fee Range |
| Not Guilty Plea hearing | £750.00 – £1500.00 plus VAT, plus Disbursements |
| Additional per hearing | £750.00 plus VAT (20%) plus Disbursements for first hearing.
£750.00 plus VAT per each subsequent hearing. |
| Half day trial | £1500.00 plus VAT – £2500 plus VAT |
| Full day trial | £2500 plus VAT – £3500 plus VAT |
(VAT at 20%)
(The above fees do not include sentencing)
The fee range above depends upon several factors such as the complexity of the case, the volume of case papers and court location.
In addition to the above fixed fees the following may also apply:
Counsel Fees (Barrister) will be in a range of £500.00 – £1500.00 Plus VAT at 20% per hearing depending on seniority of counsel, the amount of evidence to be considered, amount of court hearings and length of trial.
Disbursements (known as expenses) may include but not limited to and range from travel costs to expert witnesses such as Medical, Doctors, Psychiatric and Toxicology, BACK Calculation, Motor vehicle and Cell site. The costs for any expert witnesses will vary depending on the type of expert required and the scope of work given, this can range from £500.00 – £5000.00 plus VAT. Should an expert be required to attend Court their fees will range from approximately £50.00 – £350.00 plus VAT per hour. Travel costs to court will be charged at 45p per mile plus VAT. All disbursements would be subject to VAT.
If the case is to be dealt with at the Crown Court, then you will require Counsel (a Barrister). We will be happy to discuss this with you and provide a written estimate of our charges before you decide to instruct us and before you incur any costs. Cases in the Crown Court may take longer to conclude and can take 12 months or more. The range of costs for cases in the Crown Court is so wide that it is only possible to provide a realistic estimate of costs once we have further information about your case. VAT is payable at 20% on our charges. Disbursements (such as those described above) are payable on top of our charges (plus VAT at 20%).
HOW LONG WILL THE MATTER TAKE
This will depend on your plea.
If you plead guilty at the first hearing, then the matter may conclude on the same day or within 1-2 months.
If you plead not guilty then your matter can take approximately 3 -6 months to conclude.
The court aims to deal with cases within 6 weeks, but the reality is that it can take 6 months, or longer.