The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has adopted a new Bar Scale of fees, according to Ghanaian Dennislawnews reports.

Agbesi Dxakpasu Esq moved the motion for the acceptance of the Scale of fees and was seconded by Perpetual Yankson Esq.

This has also been confirmed by the National Secretary of the Association, Kwaku Gyau Baffour.

He however noted that the new Scale of fees will only take effect after it has gone through certain formalities.

“We’ve adopted a new Bar Scale of fees but it will take effect after going through certain formalities” he noted.

The Proposal for a New Bar Scale of Fees

Per the proposal by the Bar Association, “The Scale of Fees covers charges for professional services rendered by lawyers. Fees are quoted in both Ghana Cedis and US Dollars and are to be applied to services rendered to Ghanaian clients and international clients respectively as prescribed by law.”

It states further that “The essence of these guidelines shall be negotiation and agreement between Counsel and the client within the range prescribed below before the commencement of the provision of legal services.

The law entitles every lawyer to reasonable compensation for his services. In negotiating for fees a lawyer shall adhere to these approved tariffs and shall avoid charges which either overestimate or undervalue the service rendered, though in legal aid cases, the poverty of the client may require a less charge or even none at all.”

Moreover “the negotiation will take into consideration the nature and/or amount of work involved and estimated time to be spent on it. The terms of payment may include a deposit of up to fifty percent of the agreed fees payable upon firm instructions being given to commence work unless the Client and Counsel agree otherwise.”

The new terms of payment according to the proposal may include unless otherwise, a deposit of up to fifty percent of the agreed fees payable upon firm instructions being given to commence work.

Furthermore, in negotiating the terms of the fees, the method/basis and terms of acceptable payment to be agreed on by counsel and clients include;

a) Fixed fee;

b) Fixed fee plus success fee;

c) Hourly fees;

d) Hourly fees plus success fee; and

e) Fixed fee for part of the work and hourly fees for the other part.

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