Bold Lawyers

Family Law

Going through a divorce, property settlement or sorting out who spends time with kids is one of life’s most stressful events - Bold Lawyers are here to minimise your stress and help you obtain the result that you want. We offer fixed fee payment, deferred payment on property cases and pay as you go payment options

Having to engage a lawyer to help you resolve your family law issues adds another layer of stress generally because of the cost involved. It’s another stress that you just don’t need.

The majority of family lawyers charge by the hour and often require you to pay money up-front to find out where you stand.

Bold Lawyers doesn’t think that’s fair. We offer free initial consultations so you know where you stand before having to pay a lawyer to help resolve your problem.

Our appointments will fit into your schedule whether it be week days, week nights or weekends.

You have the ability to set the maximum amount you are prepared to pay for your case and have the flexibility to choose a charging model that suits you.

When you set the maximum amount of your legal fees at the start of your case, you will know from the start that your legal bill cannot exceed what you are prepared to pay at the start of your case.

We are prepared to defer our fees in property cases and offer flexible pay as you go arrangements for children’s matters.

We offer fixed fees so that you know the maximum amount of your legal bill at the start of your case so there are no surprises

If you want an arrangement where you pay according to your pay cycle rather than paying fees by way of lump sum its no problem at all.

If you want us to prepare your court documents and you want to appear in court yourself we can do that. If you also want representation in court, no problem – we are highly experienced court lawyers.

As experienced court lawyers, we generally don’t need to engage barristers, particularly in the early part of your case. The engagement of barristers by solicitors who lack sufficient court experience can often double the cost of your case. However if your case demands it or you wish to engage a barrister, we can brief a number of experienced family law barristers tailored to your budget and needs.

FIXED FEES

Most firms don’t advertise their fees. Bold Lawyers are different. We want you to know as much about our fee structure as possible. Below is a list of prices for our fixed fee family law services.

Please note, the below fixed fees are offered for non complex family matters. For complex matters, our fees will be more however you still have the ability to fix the maximum amount you want to be charged or choose the charging method to apply to your case. It is not possible to set out each and every complex case however an example would include a business valuation which forms part of the property pool. An example of a non complex case would be a family who has a family home with few other assets.

• Initial consultation 30 mins to 45 mins - free of charge.

Where agreement has been reached - consent orders

• Children’s orders only $3,000.00 plus GST, plus outlays such as Court filing fees
• Property orders only $3,000.00 plus GST, plus outlays such as Court filing fees
• Children's and Property orders, $4,000 plus GST, plus outlays such as Court filing fees

Where agreement can't be reached - contested application

Children's orders only

• Drafting initiating application , affidavit, notice of risk, all correspondence (does not include Court appearance) - $3,000.00 plus GST plus outlays such as Court filing fees

Property Orders only

• Drafting initiating application, affidavit, financial statement, all correspondence $3,000.00 plus GST plus outlays such as Court filing fees

Children and Property Orders

• Drafting initiating application, affidavit, draft orders, notice of risk, financial statement, all correspondence - $4,000 plus GST plus outlays such as Court filing fees

Response to Children's or Property Application

• Drafting response to initiating application, affidavit, notice of risk, financial statement, all correspondence, $3,000 plus GST plus outlays such as Court filing fees

Response to both Children's and Property Application

• Drafting response to initiating application, affidavit, notice of risk, financial statement, all correspondence, $4,000.00 plus GST plus outlays such as Court filing fees

Drafting Application in a case, with supporting affidavit

• $1,250.00 plus GST plus outlays such as Court filing fees

Court Appearances

Attendance at Federal Circuit Court or Family Court

• $1,000 for half a day, $1,500 for a full day, plus GST.

Criminal Law

Bold Lawyers are not your average criminal lawyers. We just don't do average. Our level of service and experience means that our clients often get the result they need. Bold Lawyers are experienced criminal lawyers offering a personalised service, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When you need a result and your reputation and livelihood is at risk, Bold Lawyers will be there for you anytime, anywhere, call us now.

When you engage Bold Lawyers, you will be provided with the mobile number of the Principal of the law practice. You will have access to the Principal of the practice, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day if you need it. No paralegals or junior lawyers will have anything to do with your case. Once you have entered into a mutually suitable retainer, you are free to utilise our services and advice as much as you need. Bold Lawyers have significant experience in defending our clients no matter what you have been charged with.

We offer a variety of fee structures to suit your needs and budget. We are your sword as well as your shield. If you engage us to represent you, we will do whatever is lawfully possible to defend you without exception.

Our fees are dependant upon the charges that you are faced with. Below is a list of our fees:

• Non complex pleas of guilty (no risk of imprisonment or breaches of suspended sentences) dealt with on the first appearance. $600 plus GST.
• restricted drivers licence applications $950 plus GST
• Plea's of guilty - complex issues, for example, risk of imprisonment, breach of suspended sentence, need to avoid conviction being recorded, $1,000 - $1,500 plus GST, depending on the facts and circumstances of the case.
• Mentions. $300 plus GST.
• Hearings - $1,500 plus GST for half a day, $2,000 plus GST for a full day.

Attorney, Guardianship appointments and advance health directives, Probate / Letters of Administration

Bold Lawyers offer competitive rates to our clients for Wills, Powers of Attorney, Guardianship Appointments and advance health directives

• For simple Wills that are not complex, Bold Lawyers charge $300 plus GST.
   
• For more complex Wills involving testamentary trusts or things of that nature, Bold Lawyers charge $750 plus GST.
   
• For non complex Wills for a Husband and Wife or defacto partners, we charge $500 plus GST.
   
• For non complex Wills for a Husband and Wife or defacto partners plus Powers of Attorney, Guardianship Appointments and advance health directives, we charge $1,000 plus GST.

For a probate application / letters of administration, we charge $2,000 plus GST plus filing fees.

Whats the difference between a power of attorney and guardianship appointment

A power of attorney allows a person to appoint the person or people they want to look after their legal and financial affairs when they lose capacity

A guardianship appointment allows a person to appoint the person or people they want to look after their health affairs when they lose capacity.

All powers of attorney and guardianship appointments must be registered with the Lands Titles Office in Tasmania to be enforceable.

Motor Vehicle Accidents / Motor Cycle Accidents

If you have a been injured because of motor vehicle accident, Bold Lawyers will act for you on a no win, no fee basis. We offer free initial consultations so you know where you stand.

Was your injury caused by the fault of someone else?

If you were injured as a result of a car accident, you may be entitled to make a claim for damages which will provide you with a greater amount of compensation compared to the Motor Accident Insurance Board statutory scheme.

There are many ways in which you might be entitled to make a claim for damages, including:

• being in a collision caused by another driver
• being in a collision whilst on a motor cycle, caused by another driver or rider
• being a passenger in a vehicle which collides with an at fault vehicle
• being a passenger in a vehicle that caused a collision
• riding a cycle that collides with a car or motor bike that is at fault
• being a pedestrian hit by a motor car or motor cycle that is at fault

Time limits

Generally you must lodge a claim for personal injury within 3 years from the date that the injury occurred.

Making a report to police

If you have been injured as a result of an motor vehicle accident, then its critical that you attend upon a police station and make a report of the accident as soon as you can following the accident. If you don't make a police report you will not be able to make a claim for compensation.

Whats the difference between the MAIB no fault scheme and a negligence claim?

If the accident was not caused by your fault potentially you can receive significantly more money by making a negligence claim.

The MAIB no fault compensation scheme will not provide you with compensation for your future losses. If you have been injured and your ability to work into the future has been affected, making a negligence claim is the only way that you will be able to recover the money that you would have earned in the future.

Bold Lawyers act for you on a no-win, no-fee basis

Bold Lawyers act for people injured in motor vehicle accidents on a no win, no fee basis. Please contact us to find out more.

Workers Compensation

If you have been injured during the course of your employment, generally you will have an entitlement to compensation. Bold Lawyers offer free initial consultations so that you can find out where you stand. Bold Lawyers run workers compensation claims on a no-win, no fee basis. Talk to us to find out more.

What entitlements are available to me

Providing you are able to prove that you were a worker and your injury arose out of or in the course of your employment, you may have the following entitlements available to you:

• weekly payments whilst incapacitated from work;
• medical expenses;
• rehabilitation expenses;
• permanent impairment
• common law damages

What do you have to do to lodge a claim -

Two things must occur for a valid workers compensation to be submitted. You must:

• provide notice to your employer about a workplace injury before you voluntarily leave the leave the employment in which the injury occurred; and

• lodge a notice of claim for compensation within six months from the date of injury occurring. If the worker has died as a result of the workplace injury, a claim must be submitted by dependents of the deceased within six months for the date of the injury.

A formal claim for compensation means that a claim form must be submitted to the employer and an approved workers compensation medical certificate.

You should always notify your employer about an injury, even if you do not intend to make a claim for workers compensation entitlements.

Once a claim has been lodged, an employer as 84 days to dispute liability for the claim or liability to pay medical expenses or weekly compensation payments.

Maintaining a claim

Once a claim has been lodged, a worker should submit to the employer receipts, invoices or other evidence of medical treatment that the worker has been forced to obtain as a result of the injury.

When a workers medical certificate runs out, they must provide a new medical certificate within 14 days of the prior certificate expiring.

Weekly payments

Weekly payments are made to the worker as follows:

• 100% of weekly payments for 26 weeks from the date of initial incapacity;
• 95% to 90% of weekly payments, exceeding 26 weeks but not exceeding 78 weeks from the date of initial incapacity;
• 85% - 80% of weekly payments, exceeding 78 weeks but not exceeding 9 years from the date of initial incapacity;

A worker maybe entitled to 95% of their weekly payments after 26 weeks or 85% of their weekly payments after 78 weeks if the worker is able to perform some work and their employer does not provide suitable duties for the worker to undertake.

Depending on the severity of your injury, a worker can remain on workers compensation benefits for a period of time exceeding 9 years. For example, a worker who is assessed as suffered from a whole person impairment of more than 30% can remain on weekly payments until the pension age.

Medical and other expenses

A worker is entitled to the following expenses:

• medical expenses
• hospital expenses
• household expenses
• nursing services
• rehabilitation services
• workplace rehabilitation services
• ambulance services
• in some cases, travelling, food and accomodation expenses

Permanent impairment compensation

Workers may also be entitled to lump sum payments for permanent impairment caused by their injuries. The amount of permanent impairment a worker might suffer is a question determined by doctors qualified to perform permanent impairment assessments.

There are thresholds put in place by the law that regulate whether a worker can apply for permanent impairment. What this means is that a qualified doctor must assess your injury above the permanent impairment threshold that applies to the part of the body you have injured.

The thresholds are:

• for the loss of any part of finger or toe - no threshold applies
• for any other permanent physical impairment - a 5% impairment threshold applies
• for a permanent psychological impairment - a 10% impairment threshold applies
• for industrial deafness. - a 5% impairment threshold applies

Common law damages

If a worker is assessed as suffering a permanent impairment of 20% or more, the worker is entitled to make a claim for common law damages.

An entitlement to common law damages means that the worker can claim the loss of their future income, future superannuation and other future needs such as medical, rehabilitation and care.

However to make a claim for common law damages, a worker must also show that the employer was at fault or negligent for causing the workers injuries.

There are strict time limits in place in which a worker must commence a common law claim. Generally legal proceedings must be issued before 3 years from the date of injury.

Dependents of workers who die in workplace accidents

If a worker dies because of a workplace accident, their dependants will generally have entitlements to make a claim for compensation. Most services such as medical, hospital, rehabilitation and care services are claimable by dependents on the proviso that the services are reasonable and necessary.

No win, no fee services

Bold Lawyers act for all workers on a no win, no fee basis. We offer you free initial consultations so you know where you stand, anywhere, anytime. If you need us to attend your place of residence because you are unable to travel we offer free home visits.

Employment Law

If you have been unfairly dismissed or your employment has been terminated you may have a right to compensation against your employer. Bold Lawyers run a variety of employment law cases on a no-win no-fee basis. We also allow our clients to fix the maximum amount of their legal fees at the start of their case.

Free initial consultations

Bold Lawyers offer free no obligation consultations so you can find out where you stand. We are happy to talk to you whenever you have the time, whether that be on a weeknight, weekend or during the day. Call us now to discuss your situation.

Time Limits

If you wish to make a claim to the FairWork Commission for unfair dismissal or a general protections claim, you have 21 days from the date that you found out about your dismissal. If you have been dismissed, contact us now for a free initial consultation.

UNFAIR DISMISSAL- can I make a claim?

To make a claim for unfair dismissal, a worker must fall within the following:

• be employed for a minimum of 6 months or 12 months if the employer is small business (less than 15 employees)
• earn less than $142,000 per year
• If you are casual employee and have been dismissed, there are other factors that are taken into account - contact us to find out more

What makes a dismissal unfair

There are a variety of reasons that might make a dismissal unfair. Some of those reasons might be:

• the dismissal was harsh, unjust or unreasonable;
• there was not a valid reason to justify the dismissal;
• the employee was not informed about their dismissal;
• the employee was not provided with any opportunity to respond to the allegations that led to their dismissal;
• warnings of unsatisfactory performance were not sufficient to justify dismissal

There are other reason's what your dismissal might be unfair and justify you making a claim. Please contact us now to discuss your situation.

What compensation can I receive

• The maximum amount of compensation that you can currently receive is $71,000.00.
• The amount of compensation you receive will depend on the circumstances of your case and how long you are out of employment following your dismissal.

GENERAL PROTECTION CLAIMS

• A general protections claim covers employees who have been dismissed and employees who have not been dismissed.

What are general protections

The Fair Work Act provides protections to workers, divided into four prescribed reasons below:

• protections against workplace rights, such as the right to make a complaint, take sick leave or make a compensation claim;
• the freedom to engage in lawful industrial activities, for example being a member of a union
• other protections, including the protection from discrimination;
• sham arrangements

The law prohibits employers from taking adverse action action against employees for exercising one of the general protections listed above.

Why was the adverse action taken by the employer

• Once it is established that adverse action was taken by the employer against the employee (such as dismissal from employment), the focus of a general protections claim looks at the 'reason' why the adviser action was taken.
• If the adverse action is not taken because of one of the four prescribed reasons listed above, a general protections claim will fail.

What compensation is available under a general protections claim

• Unlike an unfair dismissal claim, the amount of compensation available under a general protections claim is not capped.
• An employee who is successful establishing a general protections claim can claim compensation for economic loss, non-economic loss for hurt, humiliation and distress and medical expenses.

Commercial / business advice

If you need advice about the structure of your business or need advice about asset protection and employment law contact us now.

Corporate structure, business structure and asset protection

If you need advice about how to set your business up, what sort of company structure you should implement and how to best ensure the protection of your assets now and into the future, contact us to discuss your options.

We offer a broad range of services including:

• general advice
• corporate structure
• trust advice
• share holder agreements
• non - disclosure agreements to protect your intellectual property