Employment solicitor fees can often seem daunting, and sometimes you might avoid seeking legal advice due to concerns over costs. Here, we provide a transparent breakdown of employment solicitor fees, so you can better understand how much an employment lawyer costs and make an informed decision.
While we cannot offer free advice, our expert employment team can help you decide whether you need an appointment, or if there’s anything else we can do to support you.
How much is an employment lawyer?
Our specialist employment solicitor is Karl Thomas, who charges at an hourly rate of £250 plus VAT.
Employment Advice Initial Appointment
We offer a fixed-fee initial appointment for £250 plus VAT. This includes:
- The administrative cost of setting up your file.
- A 45-minute appointment (via telephone, video, or in person at our Cardiff office).
- Review of one to two pages of A4 documentation.
- A brief written summary of the advice provided during your appointment.
Should your documentation exceed one or two A4 pages, please reach out to us for a bespoke quote that covers the additional reading and associated employment lawyer costs.
After your initial appointment, any further work will be charged at the solicitor’s hourly rate.
Settlement Agreements
If you’ve been offered a settlement agreement, your employer will often contribute toward your employment lawyer cost.
In most cases, this contribution is sufficient to cover advice on the terms and effects of the agreement only.
If additional employment law advice is required, such as guidance on negotiations, assessing whether the offer is reasonable in your circumstances, or advice on potential claims, we’re happy to provide a tailored cost estimate for the additional advice.
Employment Tribunal Matters
Our fees are based on an hourly rate, which for a senior associate solicitor within the Employment Department is £250 plus VAT per hour (as of April 2024).
For more detailed information about employment lawyer costs for tribunal claims, for both individuals and businesses, please see our breakdown of employment lawyer costs.
Do You Offer No Win, No Fee?
Due to the nature of employment law matters, it’s unlikely that we can offer a no win, no fee agreement. However, it’s always worth contacting us to find out whether your case could be an exception.
The majority of our clients privately pay their employment solicitor fees, often with support from family or friends. We also encourage you to check if you have legal expenses insurance (for example, as a bolt-on to your home contents insurance). If you do, we can liaise with your insurer, so you don’t have to worry about legal fees.
Do I Have to Pay Everything at Once?
Generally, no. We forecast overall future fees and update you on the employment lawyer costs throughout your matter, allowing you to spread costs into more manageable advance payments.
Have More Questions?
If you’d like more information about the cost of an employment solicitor, the services we offer, or how we calculate employment solicitor fees, please don’t hesitate to contact Karl Thomas, senior associate solicitor, and his expert team.
