How much does a solicitor cost?
How much you’ll pay for your solicitor depends on a number of different things. Discover everything you need to know about how much a solicitor costs here.
How much you’ll pay for your solicitor depends on a number of different things.
Fees vary across the type of legal service being provided.
However, fees may also depend on the time it takes to do the work, the experience of the solicitor involved, and where in the UK you are.
Conveyancing fees can also vary based on the value of the properties involved.
Here is a breakdown of the average fees you can expect to pay for different types of legal services from a solicitor.
Conveyancing fees may be fixed, or may depend on the value of the property, so ask your solicitor how they calculate their fee.
The cost of the divorce process itself will depend on whether you are the person seeking the divorce or the other spouse.
Writing a will is relatively inexpensive, compared to the potential cost to your family if you don’t have one.
Seeking professional financial advice ensures that you can navigate these challenges with confidence.
Average conveyancing solicitor fees
You need a conveyancing solicitor whenever you buy or sell a property.
If you’re both buying and selling, you’ll be charged a separate fee for each.
When buying a property, you’ll also be charged for disbursements which include things like searches and anti-money laundering checks
Conveyancing fees may be fixed, or may depend on the value of the property, so ask your solicitor how they calculate their fee.
You might get better value from a fixed fee if your property is expensive, whereas tiered fees could work out cheaper for a low-cost property.
The below table shows typical conveyancing costs (including VAT) in the UK.
| Buying | Selling | |
|---|---|---|
| Conveyancing fee | £400 - £1,500 | £610 - £950 |
| Disbursements | £700+ | N/A |
If you're buying a home, you may also need to contact a mortgage broker to ensure you get the best deal.
Average solicitor costs for an uncontested divorce
The cost of the divorce process itself will depend on whether you are the person seeking the divorce (the ‘petitioner’) or the other spouse (the ‘respondent’).
Both of your will also pay less in legal fees if the divorce is uncontested – that is, you both agree to the divorce.
If you are the petitioner, remember that you’ll have to pay the divorce centre’s fee as well as your solicitor’s costs.
Here’s what you can expect to pay on average for an uncontested divorce.
| Petitioner (the one seeking the divorce) | Respondent (the other spouse) | |
|---|---|---|
| Solicitor’s fee | £700 - £2,000 | £400 - £800 |
| Divorce centre fee | £593 | N/A |
| Total | £1,300 - £2,600 | £400 - £800 |
Be aware that solicitor fees can rise considerably if a divorce is contested in court, as solicitors will then start to charge by the hour. See hourly rates below.
The financial settlement
Negotiating a financial settlement can add additional costs, depending on how much agreement there is and whether or not the case proceeds to court.
This is roughly what you can expect to pay.
| Typical solicitor's fee | |
|---|---|
| Simple settlement with early agreement between parties | £400 |
| Case that requires mediation or additional negotiation | £2,000 |
| Case that proceeds to court | £10,000 - £15,000 |
Average wills and trusts solicitors fees
Writing a will is relatively inexpensive, compared to the potential cost to your family if you don’t have one.
Here’s what you can expect to pay:
| Type of will | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Simply will | £150 - £400 |
| More complex will (e.g. if you’re divorced or have children from different partners) | £400 - £1,000 |
| Specialist will (e.g. including tax planning, overseas assets, trusts) | £500 to over £2,000 |
A trust can be used for a number of purposes, but usually for leaving an inheritance.
A solicitor’s fee for setting one up will usually range from about £500 for the simplest kind to around £800.
If you're seeking a divorce, or your spouse is divorcing you, then you can ensure a fair financial settlement with the help of a financial adviser.
Average lasting power of attorney solicitor fees
If you should become unable to manage your own financial affairs, lasting power of attorney (LPA) lets someone else (e.g. your spouse) do it for you.
You need to set this up with the help of a solicitor while you are still capable of making decisions for yourself, so it’s a good idea to do so at any age.
A solicitor may charge anything from £250 and £1,000 to set up LPA, depending on the complexity of the arrangements.
A financial adviser can also be very helpful at this stage.
Average business law solicitor fees
If you run a business then you may frequently need the services of a solicitor who specialises in business law.
Here are some typical services you might need and the average cost you can expect.
| Service | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Drawing up an employment contract | £350 - £520 |
| Arranging a commercial lease | £600 - £900 |
| Creating terms & conditions for consumers | £550 - £750 |
| Arranging a shareholders’ agreement | £750 - £1,250 |
| Application for a Tier 2 Visa (needed if bringing in a skilled employee from overseas) | £2,700 - £3,800 |
An accountant can help you with the financial side of running your business.
Personal injury claims and general litigation
If you are seeking compensation for an injury where you believe another party was at fault, a solicitor can help you reach a settlement.
Most personal injury claims are ‘no-win, no fee’, meaning you don’t have to pay anything if the case isn’t won.
If your case is successful, then usually you will pay a ‘success fee’ which is 25% of any compensation.
Be aware that if the case is won but the defendant still does not pay compensation for any reason (e.g. insolvency) then some solicitors will still charge you for the work.
Average hourly rates for a solicitor
If it’s not known how long a case will take (e.g. a complex divorce or some other kinds of litigation) you may be charged by the hour.
Solicitors’ hourly rates depend on both their level of experience and on the firm’s location.
Location-wise, there are six different grades of solicitor fees: three at a national level and three covering London.
Broadly speaking, areas with higher property prices mean more expensive solicitors, and vice versa.
So you tend to find the most expensive solicitors in the City of London, and the cheapest in the smaller towns in the North of England and South Wales.
Here’s a rough guide to hourly rates by location and experience.
| Solicitor experience level | UK average per hour | London average per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Junior | £142 | £210 |
| 4+ years | £247 | £393 |
| 8+ years | £295 | £579 |
If a solicitor has to travel, he or she may also charge a travelling fee.
Seek expert financial advice
Whether you're buying a home, negotiating a divorce settlement, running a business, or setting up a lasting power of attorney, the financial decisions you make can have a lasting impact.
Seeking professional financial advice ensures that you can navigate these challenges with confidence.
Unbiased can connect you with a financial adviser to provide invaluable support, helping you to secure a fair settlement, get the best mortgage deal, or simply help you to make the right financial choices to safeguard your future.
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