What does a lawyer cost?

Legal expenses insurance

Many people are insured without knowing it. Legal expenses insurance is often included in a family liability policy, car insurance or home insurance, and in that case covers part or all of the fee. Send your policy before the first appointment, and this will be checked straight away.

What you pay for

A defence consists of three kinds of work. Together they determine the fee.

The defence strategy. At the start, the file is reviewed in full: the facts, the evidence, the procedural position and the time limits. A strategy follows from that. That strategy is not fixed. A new document in the criminal file, an additional expert report, an amended charge or a reply submission from the opposing party can change the approach fundamentally. Each time, the strategy is reassessed and adjusted where necessary. This is the least visible part of the work and at the same time the decisive part.

The written defence. Summonses, written submissions, petitions, objections to default judgments, notices of appeal and appeals in cassation. This is the part on which the court actually relies in the council chamber or during deliberation. Drafting it requires research into case law and legal doctrine, and the careful processing of every document in the file.

The oral pleading. The hearing itself, its preparation and the response to whatever is raised at the hearing. Assistance during interviews, before the council chamber and before the indictment chamber also falls under this.

The scope of each of these three parts varies greatly from case to case. A traffic case with one hearing requires something different from a criminal court file of four folders. That explains the difference in cost.

Fixed fee or hourly rate

For cases with a predictable course, a fixed fee can be agreed at your request. You then know the price in advance, regardless of the number of hours. If the work takes longer, that is my risk.

For cases whose scope cannot be foreseen at the outset, the hourly rate continues to apply. Think of a judicial investigation, a case with several defendants or a dispute in which the opposing party keeps widening the debate. In those cases, a cap per stage can be agreed: once that cap is reached, we consult first before any further work is done.

Which arrangement applies to your case is agreed before work begins.

Three elements on the statement

The statement of costs and fees may include three elements: the lawyer’s costs, court costs and disbursements, and the fee.

Court costs and disbursements (bailiff, registry, translators/interpreters, public authorities) are listed precisely and in detail and are generally passed on at cost.

Fees and supplements

The fee is based on an individually agreed hourly rate, the hours worked and any adjustment coefficients.

The final cost depends on the nature and complexity of the case. Clear arrangements are agreed in advance.

Flat administration and overhead charge

The costs are all expenditure incurred by the lawyer in the handling of the case.

Keeping track of or calculating the exact share attributable to each file, for each client, would place an excessive administrative burden on the lawyer. A flat-rate method is therefore used for costs that cannot be allocated individually: a flat increase of 10% of the fee is charged as a flat administration and overhead contribution.

These costs are not exhaustively listed and include, among other things: rent; professional liability insurance premiums; the Reprobel equitable remuneration; utilities and telephony; maintenance of the premises; investments; the library and access to digital databases of professional literature; ICT and cloud infrastructure; and any other costs that cannot be directly allocated to a specific file.

Advances and payment

The lawyer may request one or more advances before and during the matter.

Payment within eight days of receipt of the payment request, unless a shorter period is reasonably required (e.g. an imminent hearing).

Objection to an advance or final statement: in writing within fourteen days of receipt.

Late payment and default interest