Under the SRA Price Transparency Guidelines 2018, we are required to publish our prices and service information. If you wish to enquire about these fees, or those for any services not listed here, you can call us on 01582 853 783 and a member of our team will be happy to assist.
How our fees work
Please note that VAT and usual disbursements are to be added to the following fee scales. Disbursements are expenses related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as Counsel fees, accountant fees, court fees and expert fees.
You can choose to instruct us using the hourly rate funding option or the agreed fees option.
The hourly rate to be charged will depend on the complexity of the matter and the post-qualification experience (PQE) of the solicitor handling the matter.
The following figures are a guide only, and the final fees will be agreed by you at initial instructions.
Police station representation
Free advice and assistance
- Everyone who is arrested by the police is entitled to free advice and assistance whilst they are detained at the police station, regardless of their financial situation.
- On arrival at the police station, you will be asked if you want a solicitor. If you ask for Liberty Law Solicitors, we will arrange for one of our solicitors or police station representatives to come and represent you.
- If you have been asked to attend the police station by appointment, for example for an interview under caution (also referred to as a caution +3 interview and voluntary interview), we will arrange to come with you.
- Where appropriate, we will provide continued advice and assistance without charging fees for our criminal lawyers' services whilst the police consider whether you will be charged with an offence.
Private representation for advice and assistance
- Some of our clients require more assistance and support and choose to pay privately for our attendance at the police station and for our advice pending any criminal charge.
- Our solicitors and police station representatives are able to provide practical advice and support during this difficult time. If appropriate, we can make written representations to the police on your behalf.
- Our fees for criminal lawyers range from £150 to £500 (excluding VAT) depending on their experience.
Magistrates' and Crown Court representation
Legal aid
- Legal aid is available for some Magistrates' Court cases; however, it is subject to a 'merits' test and a 'means' test.
- The 'merits' test looks at the nature of the case and decides whether it is appropriate for that case to be paid for from the public purse.
- The 'means' test considers your financial situation, and that of your husband, wife or partner. In the Magistrates' Court, if you fail the 'means' test you are not eligible for legal aid.
- In the Crown Court, almost everyone is financially eligible, but you can be ordered to pay a contribution towards your legal costs, either during the case from your income or at the end of the case from your capital.
Private representation
- Many of our clients prefer to instruct us on a private paying basis, so that they have more control over the way their case is managed and are free from the limitations imposed by publicly funded cases.
- We are able to provide you with a clear estimate of costs and can tailor the preparation of your case according to your budget.
Read more about criminal legal aid.
Road traffic matters
Legal aid and private representation
- We have a dedicated team who oversee all our motoring offences and who are assisted by other staff members and, where appropriate, external Counsel.
- As legal aid is not available for the majority of driving offences, we can offer hourly rates or, in many circumstances, we can agree a fixed fee from the outset.
- The hourly fees for our Road Traffic Team vary, depending on their experience. A junior solicitor is charged at £200 per hour plus VAT and a partner is charged at £500 per hour plus VAT.
- The total cost of your case will depend on a number of factors. These include, but are not limited to:
- The nature and complexity of the case.
- The location of the court and the length of the hearing.
- How many witnesses there are and what the issues in the case are.
- Whether there is expert evidence or not. If you need to instruct an expert, you will be responsible for their fees.
- Every case is different, so it is very difficult to give an accurate estimate of the costs of your case without knowing anything about it.
- A fixed fee includes the following:
- Meeting with you to take your instructions.
- Obtaining and considering the prosecution statements.
- Taking statements from witnesses.
- Advising you on the law, your prospects of success, and the court procedure.
- Attending court on the day of your trial.
- If there are further hearings, in addition to the scheduled date for your trial, there will be additional costs.
See our road traffic fee guide for fixed fees by hearing type.
Employment law
Our services
Employment law is constantly changing and adapting to keep up with modern working practices and demands. It can be complicated and often confusing. We can provide advice, guidance and support to employers and employees on areas including, but not limited to:
- Settlement agreements
- Exit strategies
- Workplace bullying and harassment
- Unfair or wrongful dismissal
- Constructive dismissal
- Discrimination in the workplace
- Unlawful deduction of wages
- Transfer of Undertakings (TUPE legislation)
Initial call
Our friendly team offers a free 20-minute phone consultation to review the basic details of your matter, discuss it with a legal adviser, confirm cost, arrange an appointment, and provide some provisional advice (if appropriate).
Initial consultation
It is usually a requirement for all new clients to have a first consultation with one of our legal advisers (save for settlement agreements). This meeting will take place with one of our experienced solicitors or caseworkers, and there is no time limit on the length of the meeting. Advice will be provided during the meeting and will be recorded in writing. The fixed fee varies depending on the nature of the case, the volume of material to be considered, and the experience of the adviser. As a guide, the usual fixed fee ranges between £250.00 and £500.00.
Funding options
A range of funding options are available in employment matters, including hourly rates, fixed fees, damages-based agreements and insurance-based funding. The hourly rates are between £150.00 and £500.00 (excluding VAT) per hour.
Timescales
As with costs, much depends on the case and its circumstances, and we will update you as your case progresses. If the matter is resolved quickly, then the timescale should be within 2–6 weeks of your instructions. However, most matters that settle prior to hearings do so in an average of 8–16 weeks.
If your claim proceeds to a final hearing, your case is likely to take 6 months to 2 years depending on the likely length of the hearing. This is the average time provided by ACAS; however, much depends on the listing availability at the Employment Tribunal.
Cost estimates
The costs of pursuing or defending an Employment Tribunal claim are difficult to estimate without further details. We therefore recommend that you contact one of our team members on 01582 853 783 to discuss the matter. This will enable our expert team to provide you with an estimate based on your personal or business circumstances.
There are many factors that can determine the costs of Tribunal proceedings, including (but not limited to):
- The stage of our instructions.
- The documents that are required.
- The volume of documents to be assessed.
- The complexity and nature of employment law involved.
- The number of parties to the proceedings.
- The need for initial preliminary hearings and/or applications.
- The length of the estimated hearing.
- The seniority of Counsel.
- The funding options in place.
Employment Tribunal fee guide
| Type of claim / case | Length of hearing | Our fees | Disbursements | Timescale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic and straightforward | Where the listing for the final Employment Tribunal hearing is 1–2 days | £4,000 – £6,000 | £750 – £1,500 | Up to 8 months |
| Medium complexity | Where the listing for the final Employment Tribunal hearing is 3–4 days | £6,000 – £12,000 | £2,500 – £5,000 | Up to 12 months |
| High complexity | Where the listing for the final Employment Tribunal hearing is 5–10 days | £12,000 – £20,000 | £6,000 – £12,000 | Up to 18 months |
| Very high complexity or very long listing | Where the listing for the final hearing is 11–20 days | £20,000 – £35,000 | £12,500 – £20,000 | – |
See our employment law fee guide for more detail on funding, timescales and what our fees cover.