Prices & Service Information

The aim of this page is to provide you, the client, with clear and transparent information about fees and services provided by Fixed Fee Solicitor (a trading name of Ferndale Legal Services Ltd).

For you to understand how fees are calculated on a fixed fee basis, you need to understand how other firms of Solicitors normally charge for their service. Traditionally legal practices charge for their time by reference to an hourly rate. The Government provides guidelines as to hourly rates that Solicitors can charge dependent on area and experience. The guidelines can be found online (see attached link).

For Stratford upon Avon, the guidelines are National Band 2. The recommended hourly rate therefore for a Solicitor practicing in Stratford upon Avon who is Grade A qualified (with over eight years legal experience) is £282 per hour plus VAT. For a Grade B (with over four years experience) it is £242 per hour plus VAT.

This is staggeringly expensive, and it is very easy for a client to incur significant costs if you agree for your work to be undertaken on an hourly rate.

Rupert Hills charges by using his significant experience as a Grade A Solicitor to assess your case and provide you with an agreed fixed fee. As long as there is a full understanding between Rupert Hills and his client as to the work required, then the fixed fee quoted will not change.

No fees will be incurred unexpectedly, and any fees will always be agreed with you so that you have full transparency as to the fees you will incur.

Obviously each case turns on its own facts. Some cases are far more complicated than others and require far more input from Rupert Hills. The examples given on this page are simply estimates as to your likely charges.

Rupert Hills is also happy to discuss payment terms, or even, in exceptional circumstances, waiting until the matter is resolved before costs are paid. This is particularly relevant to Financial Disputes in matrimonial cases.

Often clients’ assets will be tied up in property. In certain circumstances Rupert Hills will agree to wait until the property is sold before his fees are paid.