Under s. 9.01 of the old LAA Tariff and s. 18.01 of the new LAA Tariff, Counsel may request approval to fund a Voice of the Child Report or a PN7. The Authorization Request must contain:
- the name of the expert and their area of expertise;
- the nature of the type of analysis that will be undertaken and provided; and
- an explanation as to why this expert report will be beneficial to the client’s matter.
Additionally, you must provide to LAA a copy of the Order directing the Report/Practice Note, as well as a detailed breakdown of the cost of obtaining the expert’s report. Ideally, the expert would prepare a quote, which would include the hourly rate (paid at a maximum of $155.00 per hour for psychologists), the number of hours the expert requires, and the steps the expert would take.
Refer to section 3.23 of LAA’s Administrative Policy 5 for the maximum hourly rates permitted for expert or professional fees, including for expert testimony at trial. Note that LAA does not pay for individual counselling for a child client (or the parent-parties) or family restructuring therapy, and LAA does not pay psychologists at a rate above the $155.00 per hour. Arrangements where LAA would effectively be subsidizing the cost of the psychologist are not permitted.