Privately funded criminal defence lawyers
Joe aims to be as transparent as possible when discussing costs.
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He may charge fees based on an agreed hourly rate from the outset. A ‘payment on account’ will be requested, and he will provide estimates of the total likely costs, which will be updated regularly.
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Alternatively, he can agree a fixed fee for representing you either for a particular stage of your case or for the case in its entirety.
Private client charging rates per hour
The rates below are reviewed annually in April 2025.
Solicitor / Experience and Hourly Rate
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Joe Rawlings
£400.00 p/h
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Domestic Violence Cases
Magistrates’ Court Trial (Fixed Fee): £3,000.00 plus VAT
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Single Magistrates Hearing: £500.00 plus VAT
Crown Court Trial (Fixed Fee): £10,000.00 plus VAT
These fees may increase depending on the instruction of a Defence Barrister.
Recovery of Costs in the Magistrates’ Court – ‘Costs from Central Funds’
In certain cases, it is possible to recover defence costs from Central Funds — however, these are paid at Legal Aid rates, which are significantly lower than our private client rates.
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If you instruct Joe Rawlings to make such an application on your behalf, this will not be included in any previously agreed retainer, fixed fee, or estimate. Any such application will be billed at the agreed hourly rates.
Road Traffic Cases
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Guilty plea & mitigation (no court attendance / consultation only): £250.00 plus VAT
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Guilty plea & mitigation (with court representation): £1,400.00 plus VAT
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Additional hearings: £250.00 plus VAT
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Exceptional hardship applications: £1,400.00 plus VAT
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Special reasons arguments: £1,400.00 – £1,700.00 plus VAT
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Not guilty plea & trial: £2,500.00
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Trials involving special reasons (e.g. medical/scientific): £2,500.00 – £6,000.00
Legal protection insurance
In many cases, legal protection or legal expenses insurance is available — either as standard or as an add-on to existing policies. If you are unsure whether your policy covers legal representation, Joe is happy to review this for you.
Legal Aid
Joe Rawlings also acts in legally aided matters. He can advise on eligibility, suitability, and whether he is prepared to accept your case on a publicly funded basis.
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However, Legal Aid has significant limitations. In particular, public funding at the pre-charge stage is extremely limited, and he does not undertake this type of work under Legal Aid.
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This is important, as the pre-charge stage can be the most crucial stage of your case.
Contact Joe to learn more about the role of a solicitor at this stage and his proactive approach.
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Joe always seeks to halt investigations early and consider whether defence-led enquiries can result in representations against charge.
Domestic Violence & Legal Aid
Most domestic violence cases are heard in the Magistrates’ Court. Unfortunately, most working individuals do not pass the means test for Legal Aid. This often results in representation only via a court-appointed solicitor, not one of your choosing.
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The court-appointed solicitor’s role is usually limited to cross-examining the complainant on the day of the trial.
This means:
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Your case may not be prepared in advance
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You will not be represented at earlier hearings
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Legal arguments may not be made on your behalf
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You may have to cross-examine other witnesses yourself
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You may need to call and examine defence witnesses on your own
Joe Rawlings specialises in defending domestic violence cases. Click here to learn more about his dedicated representation in this area.