Legal consultation fees: what is included and what to ask

General information only — not legal advice. Check the relevant Australian jurisdiction.

Start with the unit you are paying for

Is the quoted amount for a fixed-length conversation, a document review or a defined piece of work? Ask whether preparation before the meeting is included and who will be doing it. A number without a scope is difficult to compare. Record the explanation in your own words and check that you have understood it correctly.

Separate an introduction from an engagement

Some first contacts are administrative enquiries; others are paid advice sessions. Clarify which kind you are arranging before discussing detailed facts. Ask how further work would be agreed if the consultation identifies another task. The initial appointment price should not be treated as an estimate for every possible stage of a matter.

Ask about expenses and changes

Find out whether the quote includes applicable tax and any expected external expenses. Ask what happens if the meeting needs more time, the work changes or you need to reschedule. Request the office's current terms rather than assuming all providers handle these situations alike. The NSW Law Society's costs information is useful background, not a nationwide fee schedule.

Keep the practical answer

Your comparison note can be simple: appointment purpose, duration, person, price, included work and outstanding questions. Do not judge suitability on price alone. If an answer is unclear, ask for clarification before agreeing. Book a Lawyer neither sets provider fees nor collects payments, and directory information is not a binding quote.

Use the same comparison fields for each quote

Create a private note with six fields: meeting purpose, preparation included, duration, adviser, output and price. Add a seventh field for exclusions. This makes differences visible: an introductory call and a consultation after document review are not equivalent. The cheapest first conversation may not include the task you need, while a more expensive meeting may include unnecessary work for your purpose. Ask each office to clarify rather than filling gaps with assumptions.

Is the amount for a discussion, document review or defined task?

Does it include GST and any anticipated outside expenses?

Will I receive written advice or a summary?

What happens if the meeting needs more time or another document appears?

What would I be asked to approve before additional work begins?