Describe each issue in sufficient detail to assist the evaluator in assessing complexity.

Includes letter briefs.

Includes briefs of Attorney General and all other adverse parties where appropriate.  Each must be identified.  Assign review of co-appellants' briefs to Item 22, 23, or 24, below.

Issues will be evaluated using the standards in Item 6, above.

Little compensation will be approved for a petition for review that simply "recycles" all or part of the AOB.  (See Cal. Rules of Court, rules 28 and 29.)

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.

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.

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.

Includes review of exhibits.

Communications with the client or trial counsel are claimed on line 1. Claim on this line all other communication, e.g. with the court, opposing counsel, the client's family when not serving as a translator or conduit for communication with the client.

24. OTHER SERVICES

All miscellaneous services other than communication.

Do not include time spent or cost of copying cases or statutes (including in-house, through a computer service, or at a library). Extensive 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 first if copying exceeds 200 pages.

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.

Do not include regular service charges or local calls.

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.

As of 1/1/2007 the AOC has increased the mileage rate to $.485/mile.

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

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

Meals-

• up to $6 for breakfast;
• up to $10 for lunch; or
• up to $18 for dinner
• May be claimed as follows:

For work performed after November 1, 1999, includes only cost of research that requires access to unique materials that are outside of a basic fee plan (i.e., California, 9th Circuit, and U.S. Supreme Court cases are considered part of a basic fee plan) and is supported by documentation. Include explanation of need. Do not include regular monthly fees for on-line computer research service or for Shepardizing cases within the basic plan.

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.

Translator or interpreter fees may require pre-approval by the project. See our general claims information. Do not include costs of translating briefs or other pleadings, for which the Court does not compensate.

Itemize and explain costs of experts, investigators, certification 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 of Appeal. FDAP's policy for experts and investigators requires the panel attorney to submit a written request to their FDAP buddy if services will not exceed $900. If the amount will exceed $900, the attorney needs to send a request directly to the Court of Appeal (speak to your FDAP buddy first). Experts® fees may not exceed $125/hour and investigators® fees may not exceed $65/hour without pre-approval by the Court of Appeal.