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Guidelines For Appointed Counsel Compensation
(Revised 4/1/2008)

“Prima Facie Allowance” = the guidelines for barely adequate work. Less time may be given for less than adequate work.
“Ordinary Range” = the guidelines for most claims where work is of good quality.
Excellent work and an exceptionally complex case may result in an allowance greater than the “Ordinary Range.”
HOURS ITEMS
PRIMA FACIE ALLOWANCE
ORDINARY RANGE
1. COMMUNICATIONS WITH APPELLANT AND/OR TRIAL COUNSEL
Includes letters, calls, interviews. Consultation with CAP should be included in Item 21, below. When communication with the client involves a family member or other person as a translator or conduit for that communication, the time should be claimed under Item 1, here. All other communication (e.g., with the Court, co-counsel, opposing counsel and with family when necessary, etc.) should be listed under Item 23, below.
2.5 hours
3.5 hours
2. TIME REQUIRED TO REVIEW RECORD
Includes time spent reading and reviewing the record and taking notes on facts and issues.
1.0 hour for each 50 pages of record
1.0 hour for each 50 pages of record
3. EXTENSION(S) OF TIME
0.3 hours
0.5 hours
4. MOTIONS TO AUGMENT
Indicate the reason if multiple motions to augment are necessary. Include 35(e) letters in Item 5, below. Check local rules.
0.5 hours
1.5 hours
5. OTHER MOTIONS
reasonable time
reasonable time
6. OPENING BRIEF
Usually 1.0 hour is recommended for preparation of a Wende brief in addition to compensation for the Statement of the Case and Facts.

Factors considered in evaluating the complexity level of an issue include: (a) whether the issue involves legal or factual complexities, novel or unsettled law, or conceptual intricacies; (b) the number of necessary cited authorities; (c) the length of the argument; (d) the level of complexity the respondent and/or Court found in the issue.
Statement of Case and Facts  
1/3 of time to review record, up to 7.0 hours
1/2 of time to review record, up to 10.0 hours
Low Simple  
< 2.5 hours
< 4.0 hours
Simple  
2.5 hours
4.0 hours
Simple to Average  
> 2.5 to < 5.5 hours
> 4.0 to < 8.0 hours
Average  
5.5 hours
8.0 hours
Average to Complex  
> 5.5 to < 9.0 hours
> 8.0 to < 13.5 hours
Complex  
9.0 hours
13.5 hours

7. UNBRIEFED ISSUES
Describe each issue in sufficient detail to assist the evaluator in assessing complexity.
Low Simple  
< 0.2 hours
< 0.5 hours
Simple  
0.2 hours
0.5 hours
Simple to Average  
> 0.2 to < 0.5 hours
> 0.5 to < 2.5 hours
Average  
0.5 hours
2.5 hours
Average to Complex  
> 0.5 to < 2.5 hours
> 2.5 to < 5.0 hours
Complex  
2.5 hours
5.0 hours
8. REPLY BRIEF
1/3 of hours awarded for AOB
1/3 of hours awarded for AOB
9. SUPPLEMENTAL BRIEF
Include letter briefs.
same as Opening Brief
same as Opening Brief
10. REVIEW OF OPPOSING BRIEF
Includes briefs of Attorney General and all other adverse parties where appropriate. Each must be identified. Include review of co-appellants' briefs in Item 22, 23, or 24, below.
After substantive brief  

After Wende brief  
1.0 hours

0.0 hours
2.5 hours

0.0 hours
11. PETITION: HABEAS CORPUS
Issues will be evaluated using the standards in Item 6, above.
8.0 hours
12.0 hours
12. PETITION: REHEARING
4.0 hours
6.0 hours
13. PETITION: REVIEW (OR ANSWER)
Little compensation will be approved for a petition for review that simply "recycles" all or part of the AOB. (See California Rules of Court, rules 28 and 29.)
5.5 hours
10.0 hours
14. PETITION: OTHER
Issues will be evaluated using the standards in Item 6, above. Compensation for petitions for writ of certiorari may require pre-approval from the project. Check with the project.
reasonable time
reasonable time
15. PETITION: READ RESPONSE
reasonable time
reasonable time
16. PETITION: REPLY TO RESPONSE
1/3 of hours awarded for petition
1/3 of hours awarded for petition
17. ORAL ARGUMENT
Includes letters waiving or requesting argument, preparation, actual time in argument before the Court, and necessary waiting time in the courtroom. Indicate if argument is telephonic or video-conferenced.
5.0 hours
7.5 hours
18. TRAVEL
Time is compensable where the distance exceeds 25 miles one-way from counsel's office, and where counsel cannot reasonably work on the case while traveling. Travel to see clients must be pre-approved. Compensation is based on the most economic means of travel reasonably available. Indicate destination, purpose, and time
19. REVIEW OPINION
 
After substantive brief  

After Wende brief  
1.0 hours

0.2 hours
1.5 hours

0.2 hours
20. REVIEW SUPERIOR COURT FILE
Includes review of exhibits.
 
1.0 hours
2.0 hours
21. CONSULT WITH PROJECT
 
On "assisted" case  

On "independent" case  
1.0 hours

0.5 hours
4.0 hours

2.0 hours
22. ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS
Cases appointed after 10/1/04. Compensated on the final claim only.
 
1.0 hours
1.0 hours
23. OTHER COMMUNICATION
Includes all communications (including with the Court, co-counsel, opposing counsel and with family when necessary, etc.) other than what is listed in Item 1, above. Only communication time that is itemized, explained and deemed reasonable will be compensated.
 
reasonable time
reasonable time
24. OTHER SERVICES
Itemization is required.
 
reasonable time
reasonable time

EXPENSE ITEMS
STANDARDS
1. PHOTOCOPY
Do not include time spent or cost of copying cases or statues (including in-house, through a computer service, or at a library). Copying of the file and/or transcripts for the client is normally not compensable, except for short transcripts in Wende cases. Check with the project.
actual cost, up to $0.10 per page

2. BRIEF BINDING, ETC.
 
actual cost, if reasonable; bind court copies only

3. POSTAGE / DELIVERY
Include actual cost of ordinary means of delivery. Explain any unusual circumstances in the case, other than appointed counsel's personal needs, that justify use of express mail, messenger or attorney service, personal delivery, or any other extraordinary means of delivery.
actual cost, if reasonable

4. TELEPHONE
Do not include regular service charges or local calls.
actual long distance cost; if reasonable

5. TRAVEL EXPENSES
Based on State rates. The State will compensate for the least expensive means of travel for long distances. Do not include travel or parking that is related to library visits or other research sites. Consult with project in advance about overnight expenses.
actual necessary expenditures, with the following limitations:

- up to $.31 per mile for use of personal car prior to 1/1/02; up to $.34/mile after 1/1/02; up to $.445/mile after 7/1/06; up to $.485/mile after 1/1/07 (the 25-mile minimum does not apply)

- up to $110 + tax per evening for lodging (or $140 in Alameda, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties after 1/1/02)

- up to $6.00 for breakfast (if necessary to be on the road before 7:00 a.m.)

- up to $10.00 for lunch (If related to a necessary overnight stay)

- up to $18.00 for dinner (If necessary to be on the road after 7:00 p.m.)

6. COMPUTER RESEARCH
For work performed after November 1, 1999, includes only cost of research that "requires access to unique materials that are outside a basic fee plan (California and U.S. Supreme Court cases) and is supported by documentation. Include explanation of need. Do not include regular monthly fees for on-line computer research service.
actual cost for necessary extraordinary research

7. PARALEGAL / CLERKS
Itemize hours, hourly rate, and activity. Paralegal and law clerk work is expected to reduce the time an attorney must spend. Thus, if attorney time is over Guidelines for a specific activity, no paralegal or law clerk expense for that activity will be approved.
$25 per hour

8. TRANSLATOR / INTERPRETER
Translator or interpreter fees may require pre-approval by the project. Check with the project. Do not include costs of translating briefs or other pleadings, for which the Court does not compensate.
actual cost, up to local prevailing rate

9. MISCELLANEOUS
Itemize and explain costs of experts, investigators, certification fees, courts fees, etc. Do not include administrative or overhead costs such as secretarial work or library upkeep. Payment for experts and investigators may require pre-approval by either the project or the Court. Check with the project.
reasonable cost







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