Fees – JFH Law

JFH Law are committed to providing transparent and comprehensive information to clients about our fees.  

We normally charge by reference to the time we spend on each client’s matter. We provide fixed fees for work wherever possible and when we feel it would be in the best interests of the client to do so.

Our hourly rates are reviewed on the 1st April each year and clients are informed of any changes. These hourly rates are currently:

• Partner – £300
• Solicitor – £175 to £250
• Paralegal/Trainee Solicitors- £125

These hourly rates do not include VAT (currently charged at 20%), and disbursements such as external barrister’s fees, experts’ costs, travel, couriers and other out of office expenses. We do not usually charge for everyday postage and photocopying.

However, we do reserve the right to charge for such services where a matter involves heavy demands for them.

We record time spent on clients’ matters and do not charge for time not appropriately spent and will eliminate any unnecessary duplication from our charges. We will supply records from our computerised time recording system on request.

Before instructing us, clients should check whether their liability to pay legal fees may be covered by a third party, such as through an insurance policy.

The third party may wish to have an influence on the choice of solicitor and may not be prepared to cover the fees unless it has been informed at the outset.

If it is agreed that a third party will be responsible for payment of all or some of a client’s fees, the client will remain liable for the full amount (or the balance, if appropriate) of the fees if the third party fails to pay.

We normally bill monthly, unless otherwise agreed. Our bills are due for payment within 28 days of their date of issue.

However, we reserve the right to require money on account to cover future fees and when barristers’ fees are to be incurred. We also reserve the right to charge interest and/or to cease to act where any bill remains unpaid.

Disputes in the Courts or Tribunals may result in costs orders being made in a client’s favour or against them.

The rules differ as between the Courts and Tribunals, and costs orders in the Employment Tribunal proceedings are only made in limited circumstances (such as unreasonable conduct).

In most Employment Tribunal proceedings and cases, clients should therefore assume that they will have to bear their own costs and should always bear in mind the possibility of a costs award against them. However, we will advise further on this aspect of matters in each case.

In the Courts, if a client’s case is lost, they will probably have to pay their opponent’s costs as well as their own. However, clients should be aware that even if they win, their opponent may not be ordered to pay (or may not be capable of paying) any of their costs.

If a client’s opponent becomes insolvent or is legally aided, they may not recover costs, even if they win.

Clients will remain liable for their costs in full regardless of any costs orders made against an opponent, but will also be credited with any amounts actually received by us under such orders.

In relation to each matter, clients will know the name of the particular lawyer or lawyers who will work with them. In relation to every matter, there will be a client partner who will have overall responsibility for a client’s work.

Further information

Please refer to the Our People section of our website for details of the experience and qualifications of our team.

For more information on funding and our fees, including Employment Tribunal proceedings, please click on the specific link below.

• Employment Law Cases 
• Business Debt Disputes 
• Motoring Offence Fees