Consolidated practice directions

Application to the Court for assessment 
7. 
In order to apply for an assessment of the invoice, the applicant must file 
an application with the Court (sample attached to this Practice Direction 
at 4.7.4.3), naming the applicant first and describing the parties in 
accordance with pt 10 of the Act. 
8. 
The application must identify and attach a copy of: 
(a) the invoice; 
(b) any costs agreement applicable to the invoice; and 
(c) the memorandum of conferral in accordance with par 6 above. 
9. 
The applicant must: 
(a) pay the lodgment fee for an application pursuant to sch 1, 
div 1, item 9(a) of the 
Supreme Court (Fees) Regulations 2002; 
and 
(b) serve a copy of the application on any other party or parties to the 
application. 
10. Section 299(2) of the Act provides that a person notified by the applicant 
is entitled to participate in the costs assessment procedure and is taken 
to be a party to the assessment. 
Directions hearing 
11. All applications will be listed for a directions hearing before a taxing 
officer. 
12. The directions hearing will be at least 21 days after the application is 
filed with the Court. 

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4. General Division - Civil 
 
PD 4.7.4 
Supreme Court of Western Australia 
Consolidated Practice Direction
13. At the directions hearing, programming orders will be made for either 
provisional assessment, mediation or assessment. 
Provisional assessment 
14. If the bill is considered suitable for provisional assessment by the taxing 
officer, the taxing officer will make directions in respect of that 
provisional assessment including, in appropriate cases, the filing of 
supporting documents and (or) the law practice's file. 
15. The procedure for provisional assessment will then be in accordance 
with Practice Direction 4.7.2 pars 6 - 13. 
16. If the provisional assessment is accepted the taxing officer will certify in 
writing the amount of costs allowed, including, if appropriate, a 
separate notation of the amount of costs not in dispute, the amount of 
disputed costs allowed and the total amount of costs certified. The 
certificate will also show the amount awarded as the costs of the 
provisional assessment. 
17. For a typical provisional assessment, if an invoice is reduced by less than 
15% the law practice will be awarded $330 costs. If an invoice is reduced 
by more than 15% a party who is represented by a law practice in the 
assessment will be awarded $330 costs.