Who must contribute?
Certain types of lawyers must make an annual contribution to the Fidelity Fund. This needs to be done when you apply for a new certificate, or when you apply to renew your existing certificate. Approved barristers’ clerks and some foreign lawyers are also required to make an annual contribution.
Contribution amounts are set based on a range of factors, including practising certificate type and trust money received in a 12-month period.
We may adjust contribution amounts each year based on the balance of the Fidelity Fund and the advice of actuaries who help us manage the Fidelity Fund.
Contributions for the 2024-25 year
There are different fee requirements for Victorian lawyers, foreign lawyers and approved barristers’ clerks. See below for the fee category that applies to you.
Please note: where we refer to the amount of trust money handled below, we do not include ‘controlled money’ or ‘transit money’ that your practice may handle.
| Trust money received for year ending 31 October 2023 | If you or your law practice received $0 - $750,000 in trust money | If you or your law practice received more than $750,000 in trust money |
|---|---|---|
| Principal, employee or foreign lawyer authorised to receive trust money | $322 | $641 |
| Principal NOT authorised to receive trust money | $322 | $641 |
| Employee NOT authorised to receive trust money | $156 | $156 |
| Foreign lawyer NOT authorised to receive trust money | $156 | $156 |
| Approved barristers’ clerks | $322 | $641 |
Exempt lawyers
- You do not have to pay a contribution if you are a barrister, a government lawyer, a corporate lawyer, an interstate lawyer, an employee or volunteer of a community legal service, or a principal or employee of a law practice that does not handle trust money.
Exempt foreign lawyers
- You do not have to pay a contribution if you hold a registration certificate that does not authorise you to receive trust money, and you work for a law practice that is not authorised to receive trust money.
- You do not have to pay a contribution if you hold a registration certificate that does not authorise you to receive trust money and you are not, and reasonably expect not to be, an associate of a law practice.
Contributions for the 2023-24 year
There are different fee requirements for Victorian lawyers, foreign lawyers and approved barristers’ clerks. See below for the fee category that applies to you.
Please note: where we refer to the amount of trust money handled below, we do not include ‘controlled money’ or ‘transit money’ that your practice may handle.
| Trust money received for year ending 31 October 2022 | If you or your law practice received $0 - $750,000 in trust money | If you or your law practice received more than $750,000 in trust money |
|---|---|---|
| Principal, employee or foreign lawyer authorised to receive trust money | $310 | $616 |
| Principal NOT authorised to receive trust money | $310 | $616 |
| Employee NOT authorised to receive trust money | $150 | $150 |
| Foreign lawyer NOT authorised to receive trust money | $150 | $150 |
| Approved barristers’ clerks | $310 | $616 |
Exempt lawyers
- You do not have to pay a contribution if you are a barrister, a government lawyer, a corporate lawyer, an interstate lawyer, an employee or volunteer of a community legal service, or a principal or employee of a law practice that does not handle trust money.
Exempt foreign lawyers
- You do not have to pay a contribution if you hold a registration certificate that does not authorise you to receive trust money, and you work for a law practice that is not authorised to receive trust money.
- You do not have to pay a contribution if you hold a registration certificate that does not authorise you to receive trust money and you are not, and reasonably expect not to be, an associate of a law practice.