How Legal Fees Work
Legal fees can be confusing. This guide explains the main fee structures you will encounter, and how eSolicitors makes fees clearer and more predictable.
Types of Legal Fee Arrangement
Fixed Fee
A single agreed price for a defined piece of work. You know exactly what you will pay before work starts. Common for: wills, property conveyancing, immigration applications, simple contracts.
On eSolicitors: Fixed fees are the most common structure. The scope document shows the total cost broken into milestones.
Hourly Rate
The lawyer charges for each hour of work at an agreed hourly rate. The total depends on how long the matter takes. Common for: litigation, complex commercial work, ongoing advisory.
On eSolicitors: Hourly rate matters use a budgeted hours approach — the lawyer estimates the total hours, and you see a running tally as work progresses.
Conditional Fee (No Win No Fee)
The lawyer only charges if you win or achieve a specified outcome. If unsuccessful, you pay nothing (or only disbursements). Common for: personal injury, employment tribunals, some commercial disputes.
On eSolicitors: Conditional fees use a conditional milestone — the final payment milestone is only triggered if the success condition is met.
Damages-Based Agreement
The lawyer takes a percentage of any compensation you receive. Common for: personal injury, employment discrimination claims.
Retainer
You pay a monthly or quarterly fee for ongoing access to legal advice. Common for: businesses that need regular legal support.
On eSolicitors: Retainers are set up as recurring milestones.
Disbursements
These are out-of-pocket costs the lawyer incurs on your behalf — court fees, Land Registry fees, stamp duty, search fees, expert witness fees, barrister fees. Disbursements are separate from the lawyer's professional fee.
On eSolicitors: Disbursements are tracked separately in the disbursements tool and charged to you directly via Stripe when the lawyer incurs them. You approve each disbursement before it is charged.
What You Pay on eSolicitors
The Consultation (£15)
Every matter starts with a 30-minute AI Scoping Consultation at £15. This covers the video call, AI transcription, and scope generation. It is not part of the lawyer's fee.
The Legal Fee
After the scope is approved, you pay the agreed legal fee in full into escrow. The money is held safely by Stripe until each milestone is delivered and approved by you.
Buyer Protection Fee
A small percentage fee charged by the platform on each payment to cover dispute resolution, fraud protection, and client money protection. Rates vary by subscription plan.
| Your Plan | Buyer Protection (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Free | Tiered by amount (varies) |
| Standard (£9/mo) | Lower rate |
| Premium (£29/mo) | Lowest rate |
Compliance Verification Fee
£5 per matter to cover identity and compliance checks on the matter.
How Escrow Protects You
When you pay into escrow:
- Your money is held by Stripe — not by the lawyer, not by eSolicitors
- The lawyer cannot access the funds until you approve a milestone
- If a dispute arises, the funds remain frozen until it is resolved
- If a milestone is not delivered, you can raise a dispute to get a refund
When Do You Pay?
- £15 consultation fee — at booking
- Full legal fee — after you accept the scope and click "Accept and Hire"
- Disbursements — as they arise, with your approval each time
You never pay more than the agreed amount without your explicit approval.
Getting a Cost Estimate
The AI Scoping Consultation is specifically designed to give you a clear cost estimate before you commit. The scope document will show:
- The pricing model (fixed, hourly, conditional, etc.)
- Each milestone with its associated cost
- Expected timeline
- What deliverables you will receive at each stage
If you are not happy with the quote, you can simply decline the scope — you will only have paid the £15 consultation fee.