We know that cost is one of the first things you need to understand before making any decisions about legal help. It is a completely reasonable thing to want to know, and we think you deserve a straight answer rather than vague reassurances.
Barrister fees vary depending on the type of work, the length of any hearing, the complexity of your case, and the seniority of the barrister required. We cannot give you an exact figure before we understand your situation. What we can do is give you clear indicative ranges for the most common types of work we handle, so you can start to understand what you are likely to be looking at.
The figures on this page are genuine estimates based on real work. They are not artificially low starting points designed to get you through the door.
All barristers regulated by the Bar Standards Board
Fixed-fee quotes, no surprises
Fully confidential
England and Wales coverage
Pricing factors
What affects the cost of a barrister?
Four main factors determine how much a barrister costs. Understanding them will help you make sense of the fee ranges on this page.
1
Hearing length
The single biggest driver of cost. A one-hour interim hearing requires far less preparation and court time than a three-day final hearing.
2
Case complexity
A straightforward hearing where both parties broadly agree is a different task from a contested hearing involving serious allegations or high-value assets.
3
Barrister seniority
More experienced barristers typically charge more. For interim hearings a junior barrister may be the right fit. For complex finals, a senior practitioner may be worth the additional cost.
4
Type of work
Advisory work, such as a written opinion or an online consultation, is priced differently from court representation. Both are covered in the fee tables below.
Family Law Barrister Fees
The figures below are indicative fee ranges for family law advice and representation. They are based on real work and are intended to give you a clear sense of what to expect before you get in touch. Every case is different, and your actual quote will depend on the specific circumstances and complexity of your matter. All fees are quoted exclusive of VAT.
Advice & Document Drafting
Online consultation with a barrister
£250 + VAT to £450 + VAT
This fee includes
The review of the relevant initial documents
The barrister's preparation time
The barrister's time in an online consultation (for up to one hour)
Drafting a position statement
£300 + VAT to £500 + VAT
This fee includes
The review of the relevant documents
A short conference call for the barrister to take instructions
The preparation of your position statement
Representation at Family Court Hearings
Representation at a one hour hearing
£850 + VAT to £1,250 + VAT
This fee includes
A detailed review of your hearing bundle (case papers)
A pre-hearing conference call to discuss the case and take instructions
The barrister's preparation time
Representation at the hearing
Agreeing the draft order after the hearing has concluded
Representation at a two hour hearing
£1,250 + VAT to £1,600 + VAT
This fee includes
A detailed review of your hearing bundle (case papers)
A pre-hearing conference call to discuss the case and take instructions
The barrister's preparation time
Representation at the hearing
Agreeing the draft order after the hearing has concluded
Representation at a full day hearing
£1,500 + VAT to £2,500 + VAT
This fee includes
A detailed review of your hearing bundle (case papers)
A pre-hearing conference call to discuss the case and take instructions
The barrister's preparation time
Representation at the hearing
Agreeing the draft order after the hearing has concluded
Representation at a two day hearing
£3,000 + VAT to £6,000 + VAT
This fee includes
A detailed review of your hearing bundle (case papers)
A pre-hearing conference call to discuss the case and take instructions
The barrister's preparation time
Representation at the hearing
Agreeing the draft order after the hearing has concluded
Representation at a three day hearing
£3,750 + VAT to £7,200 + VAT
This fee includes
A detailed review of your hearing bundle (case papers)
A pre-hearing conference call to discuss the case and take instructions
The barrister's preparation time (including a skeleton argument if required)
Representation at the hearing
Agreeing the draft order after the hearing has concluded
All fees are indicative and quoted exclusive of VAT. Final fees are subject to the complexity of your case and the availability of suitably experienced barristers for your hearing date. Once a quote is agreed it will not change unless the scope of work changes.
Employment Law Barrister Fees
The figures below are indicative fee ranges for employment law advice and tribunal representation. They are based on real work and are intended to give you a clear sense of what to expect before you get in touch. Every case is different, and your actual quote will depend on the specific circumstances and complexity of your matter. All fees are quoted exclusive of VAT.
Advice & Opinions
Online consultation with a barrister (before any tribunal claim is filed)
£250 + VAT to £750 + VAT
This fee includes
The review of the relevant initial documents
The barrister's preparation time
The barrister's time in an online consultation (for up to one hour)
Advice on draft settlement agreement
£250 + VAT to £1,250 + VAT
Subject to the employer's contribution to legal fees.
This fee includes
The review of the draft settlement agreement
The barrister's time in an online consultation (for up to one hour)
Signing and returning the settlement agreement
Online consultation with a barrister (with an ongoing tribunal claim)
£250 + VAT to £450 + VAT
This fee includes
The review of the relevant initial documents
The barrister's preparation time
The barrister's time in an online consultation (for up to one hour)
Written opinion on the prospects of your claim
£750 + VAT to £2,500 + VAT
This fee includes
The review of the relevant documents and correspondence
A conference call to discuss and clarify the instructions
Drafting a formal written opinion on the prospects of your claim
Representation at Employment Tribunal Hearings
Representation at a one hour hearing
£750 + VAT to £1,250 + VAT
This fee includes
A detailed review of your hearing bundle (case papers)
A pre-hearing conference call to discuss the case and take instructions
The barrister's preparation time
Representation at the hearing
Representation at a two hour hearing
£1,250 + VAT to £1,600 + VAT
This fee includes
A detailed review of your hearing bundle (case papers)
A pre-hearing conference call to discuss the case and take instructions
The barrister's preparation time
Representation at the hearing
Representation at a one day hearing
£1,500 + VAT to £2,500 + VAT
This fee includes
A detailed review of your hearing bundle (case papers)
A pre-hearing conference call to discuss the case and take instructions
The barrister's preparation time (including a skeleton argument if required)
Representation at the hearing
Representation at a two day hearing
£3,000 + VAT to £6,000 + VAT
This fee includes
A detailed review of your hearing bundle (case papers)
A pre-hearing conference call to discuss the case and take instructions
The barrister's preparation time (including a skeleton argument if required)
Representation at the hearing
Representation at a three day hearing
£3,750 + VAT to £7,200 + VAT
This fee includes
A detailed review of your hearing bundle (case papers)
A pre-hearing conference call to discuss the case and take instructions
The barrister's preparation time (including a skeleton argument if required)
Representation at the hearing
All fees are indicative and quoted exclusive of VAT. Final fees are subject to the complexity of your case and the availability of suitably experienced barristers for your hearing date. Once a quote is agreed it will not change unless the scope of work changes.
Property Law Barrister Fees
The figures below are indicative fee ranges for property law advice and representation in the County Court, High Court and First-Tier Tribunal. They are based on real work and are intended to give you a clear sense of what to expect before you get in touch. Every case is different, and your actual quote will depend on the specific circumstances and complexity of your matter. All fees are quoted exclusive of VAT.
Advice & Opinions
Online consultation with a barrister (before any county court or tribunal claim is filed)
£250 + VAT to £1,800 + VAT
This fee includes
The review of the relevant documents
The barrister's preparation time
The barrister's time in an online consultation (for up to one hour)
Online consultation with a barrister (in relation to an ongoing claim)
£500 + VAT to £2,500 + VAT
This fee includes
The review of the relevant documents/bundle
The barrister's preparation time
The barrister's time in an online consultation (for up to one hour)
Written opinion on the prospects of your claim
£750 + VAT to £2,500 + VAT
This fee includes
The review of the relevant documents and correspondence
A conference call to discuss and clarify the instructions
Drafting a formal written opinion on the prospects of your claim
Representation at County Court, High Court and First-Tier Tribunal Hearings
Representation at a one hour hearing
£750 + VAT to £2,500 + VAT
This fee includes
A detailed review of your hearing bundle (case papers)
A pre-hearing conference call to discuss the case and take instructions
The barrister's preparation time
Representation at the hearing
Representation at a two hour hearing
£900 + VAT to £2,500 + VAT
This fee includes
A detailed review of your hearing bundle (case papers)
A pre-hearing conference call to discuss the case and take instructions
The barrister's preparation time
Representation at the hearing
Representation at a one day hearing
£1,500 + VAT to £3,750 + VAT
This fee includes
A detailed review of your hearing bundle (case papers)
A pre-hearing conference call to discuss the case and take instructions
The barrister's preparation time (including a skeleton argument if required)
Representation at the hearing
Representation at a two day hearing
£3,000 + VAT to £9,000 + VAT
This fee includes
A detailed review of your hearing bundle (case papers)
A pre-hearing conference call to discuss the case and take instructions
The barrister's preparation time (including a skeleton argument if required)
Representation at the hearing
Representation at a three day hearing
£5,000 + VAT to £12,000 + VAT
This fee includes
A detailed review of your hearing bundle (case papers)
A pre-hearing conference call to discuss the case and take instructions
The barrister's preparation time (including a skeleton argument if required)
Representation at the hearing
All fees are indicative and quoted exclusive of VAT. Final fees are subject to the complexity of your case and the availability of suitably experienced barristers for your hearing date. Once a quote is agreed it will not change unless the scope of work changes. Property law instructions cover landlord and tenant disputes, possession proceedings, boundary and land disputes, leasehold matters, and commercial property litigation.
Other Areas of Law
For commercial, wills and probate, money claims, defamation, and motoring matters, the best way to get an accurate picture of costs is to speak to us directly. Every case in these areas comes with its own set of variables, and we want to give you a genuinely useful figure rather than a range that may not reflect what your matter actually involves.
Get in touch and we will come back to you with a clear, fixed quote, usually within one working day.
What is direct access and how does it affect cost?
Direct access (also known as public access) means you can instruct a barrister without going through a solicitor first. For many legal matters this is a faster and more cost-effective route, because you are paying for one specialist rather than two layers of legal representation.
Barrister Connect matches you with a barrister who specialises in your area of law and provides a fixed-fee quote before any work begins. All barristers are regulated by the Bar Standards Board. We do not accept legal aid funded cases and we do not offer no-win-no-fee arrangements.
Fees on this page cover the most common types of work: online consultations, written opinions, document drafting, and representation at hearings in the family court, employment tribunal, county court, High Court, and First-Tier Tribunal. We cover England and Wales.
Common Questions
FAQs about our fees
Do you accept legal aid?
It is not possible to use Legal Aid funding to instruct a direct access barrister. If you wish to rely on Legal Aid to fund your case, you will need to instruct a solicitor who has a contract with the Legal Aid Agency. If you want to find out whether you qualify for legal aid, you can check your eligibility on the official government website.
Can I use your service with legal expenses insurance (LEI)?
Unfortunately we tend not to be able to work with clients who hold legal expenses insurance (LEI). If you have LEI cover and wish to use it, you will need to instruct a solicitor through your insurer's panel.
Can I pay online?
Yes. We offer a secure online payment platform for your convenience.
Do the fees shown include VAT?
All fees quoted on this page are exclusive of VAT. VAT at the current rate will be added to your quote.
Do you offer no-win-no-fee representation?
We do not offer no-win-no-fee arrangements as a standard service. If you are concerned about the cost of legal representation, speak to our team about what options may be available to you.
Can I spread the cost of my barrister fees?
Yes. We offer Klarna as a payment option, which means you can spread the cost of your legal fees into monthly payments rather than paying the full amount upfront. If the total fee feels like a barrier to getting the representation you need, Klarna may allow you to get started without having to find the full sum immediately. We also offer a secure online payment platform for single payments if you prefer to pay in full.
What happens if my case takes longer than expected?
Once a quote is agreed, the price does not change unless the scope of the work changes. If your hearing overruns significantly, or if additional work is required beyond what was originally agreed, we will discuss any revised costs with you before proceeding.
How quickly can I get a quote?
In most cases we can provide a quote within one working day of receiving your enquiry. If you have a court hearing coming up soon, please let us know when you get in touch and we will prioritise your enquiry.
How much does a property barrister cost for a one day hearing?
Representation at a one day property hearing in the County Court, High Court or First-Tier Tribunal ranges from £1,500+VAT to £3,750+VAT. This includes a detailed review of the hearing bundle, a pre-hearing conference call, the barrister's preparation time including a skeleton argument if required, and representation at the hearing itself.
What is the difference between an online consultation and a written opinion?
An online consultation is a one-hour discussion with a barrister to talk through your case, take instructions, and provide initial advice. A written opinion is a formal written document setting out the barrister's analysis of the prospects of your claim and the legal issues involved. Written opinions are typically used where you need a documented assessment of your case to inform a decision about whether to litigate or settle.
Next step
Ready for a fixed-fee quote on your case?
Tell us about your case in the form just below and we will come back to you with a clear, fixed-fee quote, usually within one working day. Prefer to talk it through? Call us on 01823 589 333.
