So perhaps the email was 1 unit, which gives an hourly rate of £180? How much do lawyers cost? Which seems reasonable enough, except its debateable whether you should have been charged for some of these things at all.

But understanding how lawyers in Australia charge will help ensure that if the day comes, you can be more confident you're getting what you pay for. I'm sorry your attorney didn't explain this more clearly. This can be extremely costly for their clients and gives the profession a bad name. Last year we reported on how solicitors should react (other than groaning and wondering whether to alert the insurers) when met with a request for their file from a client. Solicitors' fees and charges When you engage a solicitor you will be expected to pay for their experience and skill, the resources and time spent, and the expected result. However, your solicitor will still charge you for the time taken to answer your phone call or read your email, so do not suppose that you will not be charged if you use email to communicate with him. A lawyer can charge you for a consultation but they should tell you before you book and explain any conditions.

The Law Society has published new guidance on what a solicitor should do when a client requests a copy of its file.

You should be … For example, they may offer the first 30 minutes free but charge for time above that. A lawyer should speak to you about costs and provide the best possible information so you can make an informed choice. Some areas of the law are regulated by fee scales, for example, grant of probate, some workers compensation claims and some debt recovery proceedings. Re: Can a Lawyer Charge for Reviewing and Answering Emails Unfortunately, someone changed the subject of my question to be purely about the e-mails. But unless an attorney charges you a flat fee or a contingency fee (neither of which are offered in family law matters), attorneys routinely charge for all of the time they spend working on a case. Property sellers warned not to email solicitors: 'We lost £204,000' Save Andrew Doyle and Susan Paul lost over £200,000 when a fraudster posed as their conveyancer Credit: Christopher Jones And family law cases can definitely get pricey. Charge fees for work that had to be aborted or proved valueless due to a mistake; Make accounting errors when calculating fees and disbursements; Options for disputing solicitors’ fees. Solicitors costs and charges will be billing you anywhere between £180.00 - £350.00 per hour depending on where they are located around the country. And like your example in #11, if you can show that more than 1 charge was raised in any 6 minutes, you should challenge it. Under the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW) No 16a, solicitors are entitled to charge fees which are fair and reasonable. In the paragraphs that follow, we identify and explain the most common and task-specific options available to you for disputing solicitors’ fees. The Society has prepared factsheets to fully explain your rights and obligations when instructing a solicitor. decision. Hmmn, most solicitors charge in terms of units of 6 minutes. The example in number 11 is her sending an e-mail and then the solicitors almost immediate response. The Law Society has now issued an updated practice note on the subject. You may also have to pay for a Barrister depending on your case and that can run from £200.00 - £350.00 per hour. Even though most solicitors’ firms charge correctly and as quoted to their clients, unfortunately there are still too many who do not and who do not follow the correct procedures, as set by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) or by the courts. Summary: A 2015 'uniform law' governs around 70% of lawyers and what they charge. After this initial meeting, it may be more convenient to deal with your solicitor via email or phone when possible.