We appreciate that legal advice in the UK can be expensive.
Our solicitors’ hourly rates, range between £150 per hour, to £330 per hour, plus VAT. However not every client is charged an hourly rate. Some of our clients agree to one-off appointments to gain advice on a fixed fee, whilst others agree a fixed fee for specific pieces of work.
Many of our clients want, and need, us to act for them fully, and the only way we can do so, is by charging an hourly rate, whereby the time spent with the client, or working on the client’s matter, corresponding with the client and other parties or agencies such as the court, telephone calls and so on, are charged at that hourly rate. We appreciate that this isn’t a perfect system and will continue to campaign and raise money for Access to Justice charities to alleviate some of the pressures on the current systems.
If you cannot afford to instruct a solicitor, there are some other options available for you. Please see the options below.
Legal Aid: In the UK, legal aid may be available for those who cannot afford legal representation. However, the availability of legal aid for family law cases has become very much more limited in recent years, and limited eligibility criteria apply. It’s worth checking if you qualify for legal aid by contacting a legal aid provider or using the government’s online eligibility checker. One of our Partners, Irena, has written a comprehensive article on legal aid and what evidence will be required – you can read that here. The eligibility rules are complex.
Law Clinics and Pro Bono Services: Many law schools and legal organizations offer free or low-cost legal advice or support through law clinics or pro bono services. These services are often provided by law students, supervised by qualified lawyers. They may be able to provide guidance on family law matters and assist with certain aspects of the case. Sites like LawWorks can help you find pro bono services near you.
Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB): The Citizens Advice Bureau offers free advice on various legal issues, including family law. They can provide information on your rights, options, and procedures involved in family law cases. While they may not be able to provide representation in court, they can offer valuable guidance and support. You can find their website here, where you can find further information about how they can help.
Family Mediation: Mediation can be a cost-effective alternative to litigation in family law cases. Our mediators, Ruth and Karen, facilitate discussions between couples to help them reach agreements on issues such as child arrangements, finances, and property division. Mediation services are often available at a lower cost compared to hiring solicitors. For more information on mediation, please consult our website.
Representing Yourself: Individuals can represent themselves in family law cases if necessary. The court may provide some assistance to unrepresented litigants, such as guidance on procedures and forms. However, navigating the legal process without a solicitor can be challenging, especially in complex cases. If you are going to be representing yourself, we would recommend this website for a guide on family law cases and videos on what to expect.
DIY: Linked to representing yourself, it is often possible to do as much of the preparation and form filling, yourself, to limit the input that a solicitor has, and therefore the amount of time, they will need to charge you. So, if you can complete most of a Form E, or have a go at drafting a statement, yourself, and then just ask your solicitor for advice about any improvements or amendments, you will be helping to keep your costs more manageable. For instance, you can deal with your own divorce, and use a solicitor to deal with your financial matters, and/or any issues over your children. Likewise, if you want to do most of your legal case yourself but simply use a lawyer to help you with specific jobs, or representing you for a hearing etc. then please explore that with us. This is sometimes known as ‘Pay as you go’.
Charitable Organizations: There are charitable organizations that provide support and assistance to individuals facing legal issues, including family law matters. These organizations may offer advice, advocacy, or referrals to affordable legal services. Many of our solicitors volunteer to offer free 30 minute advice sessions to victims of domestic abuse through the charity Flag DV – you can refer yourself to them through their website and ask for a BH&O solicitor.
Other ways of Non Court Dispute Resolution: There is a whole raft of ways of exploring NCDR, including mediation, but also including collaborative law, early neutral evaluation, private FDRs, arbitration, and so on. Please explore this with our lawyers and mediators.
