The two largest expenses for an appeal are the attorney's time and the cost of the record on appeal. The attorney's time costs much more than the record. The larger the record on appeal, the more time the attorney has to spend on the appeal. Also, the more complex the case, the more time the attorney has to spend.
The record usually includes transcripts. The transcript for a single day of an Illinois state jury trial can cost $700. A one-week trial can cost more than $3,000 just for transcripts.
The court reporters must be paid for their transcripts in advance. The clerk of the circuit (trial) court puts the transcripts in the record on appeal. The clerk of the circuit court charges a fee for putting the record together. The person (or corporation) that is appealing pays for the transcripts and the rest of the record. So an appeal can cost a lot before the appeal lawyer even does much work.
Then the lawyer must read the transcripts and the record to represent the client. Most of what the client is paying the lawyer for is the brief on appeal. It is like a book that tells the court the facts and the law about the case.
Other smaller expenses are the docketing fee in the court of appeals ($25 for the appellant and $15 for the appellee in 2009) and the cost of copying the briefs. A large brief can cost $300 or more because at least 12 copies are needed.
Blood Law Office
1602 Vandalia Street
Collinsville, IL 62234-4459
Telephone: 618-345-4400 | Toll Free: 800-240-8132
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