Why a lower hourly rate doesn’t always mean a lower bill
When you compare the cost of family law solicitors, the hourly rate is usually the first number you see. It feels like the obvious way to judge value.
But the hourly rate is only half of the equation. What you actually pay is the hourly rate multiplied by the time the work takes.
How hourly billing works at Farnworth Rose and Pinnington Law
Think of hourly billing like a taxi meter. The meter runs while the work is being done: reading correspondence, drafting documents, phone calls, preparing for hearings. The rate on the meter depends on who is doing the work, but the principle is the same whoever is behind the wheel. Your bill is the rate multiplied by the time taken.
That is why the rate alone tells you very little about what you will end up paying. A slightly cheaper meter that runs for twice as long is not a cheaper journey.
The difference here is that you are told the likely fare before you get in.
One thing to note: not everything in a family case runs on the meter. The divorce application itself is charged at a fixed fee, so you know that cost from the start. We are also able to offer a fixed fee in certain other circumstances, which we can discuss with you in more detail during your free initial consultation.
It is the work around it, most commonly sorting out finances or arrangements for children, that is charged by the hour.
But, lastly, it’s important to know that overall estimates can be provided after an initial consultation and if costs are expected to increase beyond that, you’ll know well ahead of time and before any further work is instructed.
What makes a case take longer (and therefore use more hours)
The time a case takes is not entirely in our hands, or in yours. These are the things that most often add to it:
Financial disclosure that is incomplete, on either side
A former partner who is slow to respond, or who disputes something
Assets that need valuing, such as a business, a pension or a property
A change of mind about what you want to achieve
Court timetables, which nobody controls
Where something is likely to add to the cost, we will tell you at the time and set out your options.
Why do hourly rates differ between lawyers?
A lawyer's hourly rate reflects their experience.
For example, a senior solicitor charges more per hour because they have handled hundreds of cases like yours. They know the process, the paperwork and the likely sticking points. That means they tend to get through the work faster generally and spot potential issues earlier which typically means they’re quicker to resolve.
However, a more junior solicitor charges less per hour because they are still building that experience. They may take longer on the same task, and on more complex points they will need to check their work with a senior colleague. That is exactly how it should be, and their lower rate reflects it.
So, a task that takes a senior solicitor one hour might take a junior solicitor longer, but the bill can often end up in a similar place.
How do we decide who works on your case?
We match the work to the right level of experience.
Routine steps can be handled well at a lower rate. Complex issues, like pension sharing or contested finances, are handled by senior solicitors whose experience helps secure the best possible outcome.
This is not about putting the most expensive person on your case. It is about making sure you are not paying senior rates for work that does not need them and the right experience for your scenario is the lawyer representing you.
Meet the Family Law Team at Farnworth Rose and Pinnington Law
You will be given a cost estimate before we start work and receive updates as your matter progresses
We give you an estimate of the cost for that stage of work and estimates for the process overall. Not just the hourly rate, but what we expect the work to come to overall.
That applies whether your lawyer is senior or more junior. It is the total figure that matters to you, so that is the figure we give you.
If anything changes along the way, we will let you know.
The honest answer on price
We will not always be the cheapest hourly rate you find.
But we are open about what things will cost, we tell you the likely costs of each stage, and we will tell you honestly if spending money on legal fees does not make sense for your situation.
Talk it through, before you commit to anything
Your first conversation with us is free and confidential. Call us or send an enquiry and we will talk you through what your case is likely to involve and what it is likely to cost.
Contact our Family Lawyers
Family law is rarely straightforward, and the circumstances behind it never are. That is why the advice matters, and why it should come from people who are experienced and easy to talk to.
Our Family Law team works from two bases: Nelson, near Burnley, and Manchester. Whether the matter is a divorce, arrangements for children, a financial settlement or something less common, we take time to understand what you are trying to achieve, and we are clear with you about what reaching it is likely to involve and what it is likely to cost.
Being part of a full-service firm of [solicitors in Burnley and Nelson] means we can bring in colleagues from other departments when your situation calls for it, whether that is property, wills or tax, without you having to find another firm and pay for them to get up to speed.
From Nelson we act for clients across East Lancashire, including Burnley, Blackburn and Preston, and over the Pennines in Bradford, Huddersfield, Skipton and Keighley. From Manchester we act across Greater Manchester, including Bolton, Rochdale and Stockport. Wherever you are in England and Wales, we can help.
If you’d like to speak with one of our specialist Family Law Solicitors at Farnworth Rose, call us now on 01282 695 400 or complete the form below, and we’ll be in touch.
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Farnworth Rose Family Law FAQs
Will I be charged for phone calls and emails?
1
Time spent on your case is recorded, including calls and correspondence, because that is the work being done. Your initial telephone consultation is free and we will notify you if your estimate is going to change.
Do you offer fixed fees?
2
The divorce application itself is charged at a fixed fee. We can offer fixed fees in certain other circumstances, which we will discuss with you at your free initial telephone consultation.
What happens if the estimate is exceeded?
3
You will be provided with regular invoices so you can see what costs are being incurred. We will tell you as soon as we know that something is likely to change the estimate and we explain your options.
Is a cheaper hourly rate better value?
4
ot necessarily. Your bill is the hourly rate multiplied by the time the work takes. A lower rate applied to more hours can sometimes cost more overall. Ask for an estimate of the total, not just the rate.
Yes. Your first telephone conversation with us is free and confidential, with no obligation to instruct us.
