Legal Fees in Australia: 2025 Guide to Major Practice Areas

Fixed fees apply to legal matters where the workload is predictable and relatively straightforward. This fee structure is commonly used for:

• Reviewing property purchase contracts
• Property conveyancing
• Business purchases and sales
• Visa applications

The advantage of fixed fees is cost certainty, allowing clients to budget accordingly. However, it is essential to clarify the scope of work covered in the cost agreement to avoid unexpected additional charges and costs.

Hourly rates apply to matters where the time required is uncertain, such as family law litigation, commercial disputes, and criminal defence. The hourly rates vary depending on the lawyer’s experience, area of expertise, and law firm size:

• Junior Solicitor: $300–$400 per hour
• Senior Solicitor: $400–$700 per hour
• Barrister (Court Representation): Costs depend on case complexity and may range from several thousand to tens of thousands of dollars.

Clients can request a detailed timesheet from law firm to ensure transparency in legal costs.

This fee structure applies to specific legal cases, such as personal injury claims, where clients are not required to pay legal fees unless they win the case. However, it is important to note:

• Limited applicability: No Win, No Fee arrangements typically apply to personal injury cases, not commercial disputes, family law, or criminal defence etc.
• Success fees: If the case is successful, lawyers may charge an additional success fee (however strictly regulated by law), which should be clearly outlined in the agreement before signing.