Assessment of a Lawyer or Limited Licensee’s Bill
To challenge the amount of a lawyer’s or limited licensee’s bill, you may need to apply to have the bill assessed by the court. If you haven’t yet been through the assessment process, the first step is to discuss the bill with your lawyer or limited licensee. Select ‘Discuss with Lawyer or Limited Licensee’ below for more information on this option, your next steps, and a self-help communications template.
Note that you have 30 days after receiving the bill to make an application for assessment. If it has been more than 30 days since receiving the bill:
- still reach out to your lawyer or limited licensee to discuss; and
- ask them if they will consent to assessment.
If the lawyer or limited licensee won’t consent, you will need to make an application to extend the 30-day time period. See the Common Questions below for more information on the assessment process.
Common Questions:
If you and your lawyer or limited licensee can’t resolve your fee disagreement, there is a procedure called Assessment, where the lawyer’s accounts are reviewed by the registrar of the Court of King’s Bench.
Yes. According to section 67(1) of The Legal Profession Act, 1990, a bill for fees may be assessed by the person charged with the bill.