Legal Practitioners Act 1981

In conducting an adjudication of legal costs, the Supreme Court must—

consider—

whether or not it was reasonable to carry out the work to which the legal costs relate; and

whether or not the work was carried out in a reasonable manner;

the fairness and reasonableness of the amount of legal costs in relation to the work, except to the extent that clause 47 or

if the legal costs have been the subject of a complaint to the

In considering what is a fair and reasonable amount of legal costs, the Supreme Court may have regard to any or all of the following matters:

whether the law practice and any legal practitioner or

any disclosures made by the law practice under

any relevant advertisement as to—

the law practice's costs; or

the skills of the law practice or of any legal practitioner or

the skill, labour and responsibility displayed on the part of the legal practitioner or Australian-registered foreign lawyer responsible for the matter;

the retainer and whether the work done was within the scope of the retainer;

the complexity, novelty or difficulty of the matter;

the quality of the work done;

the place where, and circumstances in which, the legal services were provided;

the time within which the work was required to be done;

any other relevant matter.

In conducting an adjudication of legal costs payable by a non‑associated third party payer, the Supreme Court must also consider whether it is fair and reasonable in the circumstances for the non‑associated third party payer to be charged the amount claimed.