Schedule 7 Costs Estimator

Sep 23, 2026
Knowledge

How To

The Schedule 7 Costs Estimator is a LEAP application designed to help personal injury lawyers work out the legal costs recoverable in a NSW work injury damages matter. By answering a few questions about how far the matter progressed and entering the settlement amount, the application applies the relevant table, stage and loadings using the rates set out in Schedule 7 of the Workers Compensation Regulation 2016.

The output is an itemised estimate of the maximum recoverable. Each line shows its reference to the Regulation and can be opened to reveal the calculation behind it, so the figure can be verified before it is used in an offer or a bill. The estimate can be printed or saved to the matter as a formatted document.

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The Schedule 7 Costs Estimator applies to work injury damages claims in NSW.

Overview

The Estimator can be broken down into three main components:

The Claim Details: A guided set of questions covering the claim, how far the matter progressed and any other allowable costs
The Estimate: The total maximum recoverable, the table and stage that applied, an itemised breakdown with the working behind each amount, and messages explaining how the scale was applied
The Costs Summary: A formatted document of the estimate, including the breakdown, statutory references and messages, saved to the matter

Access the Schedule 7 Costs Estimator

The Schedule 7 Costs Estimator is available on all NSW work injury damages matter types in the LEAP matter ribbon by default.

The Claim Details

The Claim Details sit on the left of the screen and are split into three sections.

The Claim

Settlement or award amount: The amount the matter settled for or was awarded. The scale applies a percentage band to this figure. If the matter did not settle, the amount is disregarded.
What was the insurer's position on liability?: Whether liability was wholly admitted, or wholly or partly denied.
Whose costs are you estimating?: Whether you act for the worker or the insurer. Each side has its own amounts under the scale.
Date practice first retained: The date your firm came onto the matter. This is auto-filled from the Instruction Date on the matter and can be overridden.
Add GST?: Toggle on to include GST in the total.

How Far the Matter Went

Was the claim served?: Whether the claim was served. The rest of the section remains hidden if No is selected.
- Was the pre-filing statement served?: Whether a pre-filing statement was served.
  - Date pre-filing statement served: This date field opens if the matter wasn’t referred for mediation so the late retainer test can be applied.
Was the matter referred to mediation?: Whether the dispute was referred to mediation. This unlocks the mediation items in the next section.
Was a certificate as to mediation issued?: Whether a certificate issued following mediation, and on what date. The certificate adds a loading and its date is used for the late retainer test.

Other Allowable Costs

Schedule 7 permits a number of items in addition to the scale, grouped under Disputes, Mediation (only if referred) and Counsel. The Mediation and Counsel sections can only be toggled if the respective questions in the Claim Details were answered affirmatively.

Disputes

Items	Description	Amount
Permanent impairment dispute determined	A dispute over whether the degree of permanent impairment is sufficient for damages.	+$500
Dispute over a defective pre-filing statement	The insurer disputed the pre-filing statement as defective and the dispute was dealt with.	+$200

Mediation (only if referred)

Items	Description	Amount
Cost of solicitor representation at a mediation	A solicitor attended the mediation on behalf of the client.	+$400
Mediation ran longer than 2 hours	If the mediation went beyond two hours, enter the Hours (or part hours) beyond the first 2.	+$125/h

Counsel

Items	Description	Amount
Counsel advised on settlement before mediation	Counsel gave advice on settlement ahead of the mediation. Only where the matter was referred to mediation.	+$500
Cost of junior counsel representation in court	Junior counsel appeared for the client in court, then enter the number of hearing days.	+$1,500/day
Cost of senior counsel representation in court	Senior counsel appeared for the client in court, then enter the number of hearing days. Not chargeable without a court order (cl 2(2)).	+$2,200/day

The Estimate

The Estimate sits on the right of the screen and updates as each answer is entered.

Estimated maximum costs: The total figure. It shows as Nil where the answers describe a sequence the Act does not permit
Labels: A summary of the inputs at a glance, including the table and stage that applied (for example Table A Stage 3), whose costs, liability and how the matter finalised
Cost breakdown: Each scale amount and other cost listed with its reference to the Regulation, followed by Subtotal (excl. GST), GST (10%) and Estimated maximum costs
How this is calculated: Expands the breakdown to set out the base amount, the percentage applied and each loading
About this estimate: Figures are the maximum costs set out under Schedule 7 of the Workers Compensation Regulation 2016 (NSW). Not a quote and not an entitlement. Preliminary estimate, not legal advice.

References to the 1998 Act are to the Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 (NSW). References to the 1987 Act are to the Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW).

The Costs Summary

A Costs Summary is saved directly to the matter correspondence when Print, Save & Close is selected. This formatted Word document shows the information displayed in the estimate with the appropriate explainers and calculations.

Last Modified Date

23/09/2026 4:59 PM

Title

Schedule 7 Costs Estimator

URL Name

Schedule-7-Costs-Estimator-AU