Transparent legal fees.
You should understand how legal fees work in your case, whether a lawyer has been appointed by the court or retained privately.
Court-appointed defence lawyer
The court generally determines the fee according to applicable rules and indicative rates. The state initially pays the court-appointed lawyer's fee. If you are convicted, you should generally expect to be ordered to pay the necessary costs of the case, including the court-appointed defence lawyer’s fee. The court makes the final decision on costs.
From 1 January 2026, the indicative basic rate for court-appointed defence lawyers is DKK 2,055 per hour excluding VAT (DKK 2,568.75 including VAT). This is a court rate, not necessarily a privately agreed hourly fee.
Danish Courts · 2026Privately retained defence lawyer
For private representation, the office explains the fees and payment terms when the engagement is agreed. The amount depends on the assignment and circumstances of the case.