民事诉讼中的法律费用问题 Costs in Civil Litigation | 澳法评（组图）

民事诉讼是可以帮助客户解决纠纷的过程。然而在大多数情况下民事诉讼并不是被推荐的第一选择。

其中，费用是导致这种现象的主要考虑因素之一。在昆士兰州，诉讼的阶段大致分为原告在法院建立档案提出主张申请， 送达申请给被告， 被告发出辩护的意向的通知，回复，披露，出庭（如果被告不对原告请求做出答辩时，原告可申请缺席判决）。

在不同的案件事实和诉求的环境下，很难对所有案件做出统一的费用预估。很多客户在对收到的账单的内容理解并不清晰。

What are included in litigation costs？

那么诉讼费用中包含哪些内容呢？

Payment for Solicitor

事务律师费用

There are two methods to calculate solicitor fees.The first is based on time, charging a fixed fee per hour, and calculating the number of hours worked for the client. The second is to calculate according to different types of work. The basis of the calculation has been described in the relevant regulations. 

Solicitors play different roles in each stage of litigation.

事务律师费有两种计算方式，第一种是以时间为基础，每小时收取固定的费用，同时计算为客户工作的小时数。第二种是根据不同的工作类型进行计算。计算的依据在相关的法规中已经阐述。

事务律师在诉讼的每一阶段担任的不同工作角色。

Before entering the proceedings

进入诉讼程序前

01

Before entering the litigation process, the solicitor will conduct a preliminary assessment of the matter, give the client suggestions and the possibility of a successful resolution, and the options for promoting the resolution. The solicitor will wait for the client to give instructions on the next step. After obtaining the client's instructions for litigation, the solicitor will draft relevant documents for the client, file them to the court, and serve a copy of the sealed documents to the other parties involved in the matter.

As the responding party, the solicitor will draft defence documents for the client and file them with the court.

在进入诉讼程序前，事务律师会对事件进行初步测评，给出客户建议和解决成功的可能性，推进解决的选择有哪些。事务律师会等待客户给出下一步的指示。获得客户进行诉讼的指示后，事务律师将会为客户起草相关文件，在法院建立档案并且将存档在法院的文件备份送达给事件相关的各方。

作为应诉的一方，事务律师会为客户起草辩护文件在法院归档。

02

Alternative dispute resolution

替代性争端解决方式

Even if the client has decided to go to court, alternative dispute resolution methods can still be considered as a way to solve the problem. The solicitor will represent the client in mediation or negotiation with the opposing lawyer.This approach can help clients save time and money, and is conducive to maintaining a peaceful atmosphere for both parties.

即使客户已经决定起诉，仍然可以考虑替代性争端解决方式作为解决问题的方式。事务律师会代表客户与对方律师进行调解谈判等。这种方式可以帮助客户节省时间和费用，并且有利于双方保持平和的氛围。

Pre-trial steps

庭审前步骤

03

Some ancillary issues need to be resolved before the core dispute be hearing at the court. Both parties can make interlocutory steps in litigation, such as interlocutory applications. These steps ensured the smooth progress of the trial.

在正式判决核心纠纷前，有一些附属问题需要解决。双方可以做出诉讼中间步骤，例如案件中间申请。这些步骤确保了庭审的顺利进行。

04

Hearing 

庭审中

During the trial, the solicitor will attend on behalf of the client, answer questions from the judge and the opposing lawyer, and submit relevant evidence documents and submission for the final conclusion.

在庭审过程中，事务律师会代表客户出席，回答法官和对方律师的提问，提交相关证据文件和最终结论申请。

Payment for Barrister

出庭律师费用

When the case becomes complicated, the solicitor will recommend that the client choose a barrister to participate in the litigation. The solicitor will organize and brief over all relevant documents of the case to the barrister.The fees of a barrister are related to the lawyer’s experiences.

当案件问题变得复杂时，事务律师会推荐客户选择出庭律师参与到诉讼中。事务律师会将案件的所有相关文件整理并交接给出庭律师。出庭律师的费用根据律师的资历相关。

The expense for Expert witness

专家证据证言支持费用

In civil litigation, experts in related fields may be required to provide professional analysis.The solicitor will consider for the client whether to introduce expert testimony or evidence to support the client's trial.Experts who give testimony need to be approved by the court.

在民事诉讼中有可能会需要相关领域专家提供专业的分析。事务律师会为客户考量是否在需要的问题中引入专家证言以支持客户诉求。提供证言的专家需要获得法庭的认可。

Court orders

法庭判决中要求支付的费用

When a civil dispute is hearing, the court will make a judgment on the cost. Cost orders will occur at any stage of the trial, including after the trial. The cost judgment can be for the entire trial process; it can also be for a specific issue in the trial process or a particular part of the trial process.In Queensland, the general principle is ‘costs follow the event’.The court will require the losing party to pay part or all of the winning party's legal costs, which may include the fees of the barrister, expert testimony support costs, and filing fees.

民事诉讼审理时，法庭会针对费用做出判决。费用判决会发生在审理的任何阶段，包括审理结束后。费用判决可以是针对整个审理过程，也可以是针对审理过程中特定的某一问题，或者是针对审理过程的某一部分。在昆士兰州，一般的原则为‘费用跟随事件’。

法院会要求败诉方支付胜诉方的部分或者全部法律费用，其中可能会包括出庭律师费用，专家证言支持费用和文件档案登记费用。

Other expense

其他费用

In civil litigation, related litigation fees are required to be paid to the court according to the needs of different cases,such as file registration fees, case acceptance fees, and summons issuance fees.

在民事诉讼中，会根据不同的案件需要向法院缴纳相关诉讼费用，例如文件档案登记费用，案件受理费，传票发出费用等。

The solicitor will communicate with the client during the litigation service process to explain the expenses that will be incurred in the future, and list the details of the above expenses in the bill.事务律师会在诉讼服务过程与客户沟通解释未来将要产生的费用，并且在账单中列出上述费用的明细。

结语

In conclusion, litigation is one of the most potent methods for civil dispute resolution. However, compared to other alternative dispute resolutions, civil litigation requires more time and high costs. These costs may contain:

1. payment for solicitors

2. payment for barristers

3. payment for expert evidence

4. Court’s order of cost

5. other litigation-related expenses

Based on the consumption of time and costs, clients ought to carefully choose whether to commence civil litigation after seeking relevant legal advice.

总的来说, 诉讼是处理民事纠纷的重要方式之一。然而，相较于其他代替性纠纷处理方式， 民事诉讼时间更长，费用更高。这其中可能包括事务律师费用，出庭律师费用，专家证据证言费用以及法庭判决中要求支付的费用等等。客户应当在咨询相关法律意见后谨慎选择是否进行民事诉讼。