High Court Registry closure

The High Court Registry will be closed from 4.00pm on Wednesday, 24 December 2025 and will re-open at 9:00am on Friday, 2 January 2026.

Any party seeking to file a document due to be filed between 25 December 2025 and 1 January 2026 has an automatic extension of time under the High Court Rules 2004 (Rule 4.01.5) until 4:00pm on Friday, 2 January 2026 to file the document. Any documents lodged between 25 December 2025 and 1 January 2026 will be reviewed on 2 January 2026.

All inquiries for the High Court will be considered when the Registry re-opens on Friday, 2 January 2026.If a matter is of extreme urgency, you may telephone 1800 570 566, select Option 1 and leave a voicemail. In addition provide details by email to: registry@hcourt.gov.au.

Scale of Costs

Schedule 2 of the High Court Rules 2004 specifies the amount which solicitors, who are entitled to practise in the High Court, may charge and be allowed on taxation of costs by the Taxing Officer of the Court in respect of proceedings in the Court.

The current consolidation of the High Court Rules contains the current scale. Links to the previous scales of costs are shown below.

Links

Current consolidation of the High Court Rules 2004

High Court Amendment (Fees and Other Measures) Rules 2025
(Effective as of 1 March 2025)

High Court Amendment (Fees) Rules 2023 - Amending Schedule of fees for work done or services performed
(effective as of 1 January 2024)

High Court Rules 2004 Schedule of fees for work done or services performed
(effective as of 1 January 2023)

High Court Rules 2004 Schedule of fees for work done or services performed
(effective as of 1 May 2022)

HIgh Court Rules 2004 Schedule of fees for work done or services performed
(effective as of 1 January 2020)

High Court Rules 2004 Schedule of fees for work done or services performed
(effective as of 1 January 2019)

High Court Rules 2004 Schedule of fees for work done or services performed
(effective as of 1 January 2018)

High Court Rules 2004 Schedule of fees for work done or services performed
(effective as of 1 January 2017)

High Court Rules 2004 Schedule of fees for work done or services performed
(effective as of 1 January 2016)

High Court Rules 2004 Schedule of fees for work done or services performed
(effective as of 1 January 2015)

High Court Rules 2004 Schedule of fees for work done or services performed
(effective as of 1 January 2014)

High Court Rules 2004 Schedule of fees for work done or services performed
(effective as of 1 January 2013)

High Court Rules 2004 Schedule of fees for work done or services performed
(effective as of 1 January 2012)

High Court Rules 2004 Schedule of fees for work done or services performed
(effective as of 1 January 2011)

High Court Rules 2004 Schedule of fees for work done or services performed
(effective as of 1 January 2010)

High Court Rules 2004 Schedule of fees for work done or services performed
(effective as of 1 January 2009)

Legal Practitioners' Scale of Costs

The High Court, Federal Court, Family Court and Federal Circuit Court have established a Joint Costs Advisory Committee (JCAC) to inquire into, and to make recommendations on, any variations in the quantum of costs (including expenses and fees for witnesses) allowable to legal practitioners which should be contained in the scales of costs in the:

Links

High Court of Australia Rules 2004

Federal Court Rules 2011

Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Family Law) Rules 2021

Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) (Family Law) Rules 2021

Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) (Bankruptcy) Rules 2021

Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) (General Federal Law) Rules 2021

These scales are used to determine the amount payable where one party must pay the legal costs of another party to a proceeding.