Refresher

In English law, a refresher is an additional fee paid to counsel in a prolonged case. Such fees are also paid under the law of Hong Kong.

The fee applies when a case on trial is adjourned from one term or sitting to another, or when a term extends over more than one day (if the first or subsequent day(s) occupy more than five hours without being concluded).

Refresher fees were often controversial.

References

• This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Refresher". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 23 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 29–30.
• Halsbury's Laws of England. First Edition. Volume 2. pp 421 & 422.
• Graham J Graham-Green. "Refresher fees". Criminal Costs and Legal Aid. Second Edition. Butterworths. London. 1969. Pages 137 and 138. See also pages 54, 75, 83, 223, 224, 229, 265, 277, 281 and 288.
• Kevin Cheng. The Timing of Guilty Pleas: Lessons from Common Law Jurisdictions. Cambridge University Press. 2023. pp 75 to 77.
• Thomas Snow, Charles Burney and Francis A Stringer. "Refresher fees". The Annual Practice 1897. Fifteenth Edition. Sweet and Maxwell. Stevens and Sons. Volume 1. pp 1195 and 1196.
• "Refresher Fees" (1892) 36 The Solicitors' Journal 147 (2 January 1892)
• "Refresher Fees" (1893) 37 The Solicitors' Journal 228 (4 February 1893)
• "Counsel's Fees - Refreshers" (1881) 70 The Law Times 292 (26 February 1881); 2 The Australian Law Times lxxxviii (No 40, 14 May 1881)
• "Proceedings affecting the Profession" (1888) 84 The Law Times 230 (No 2339, 28 January 1888)
• "Re Counsel's Right to a Refresher in a Criminal Case" (1914) 59 Solicitors Journal 150 (19 December 1914)