Pricing
Here at Optimal Solicitors, we understand that the cost of legal support only adds to the stress of dealing with a matter, whatever it may be. That’s why we offer legal advice at a competitive price, while maintaining our quality service.
We’re fully transparent about our fees from the outset, so our clients can select the services that suit them. You’ll find the links for our pricing via the categories listed below. Please note that these are a guide – no-win, no-fee; fixed-fee; and hourly rates apply depending on the nature of the work you require. We’ll be happy to explain the likely costs when you speak to one of our experts about your individual circumstances.
Legal aid
Please note: we don’t currently hold a legal aid franchise, so we’re unable to act on any case where you require funding with legal aid. Although we don’t offer it, you can find out more about your eligibility for legal aid here.
Consultation
We don’t offer free consultations, but you can request a paid one. Read about the pricing of our consultations here.
Employment
We can represent you in a range of employment disputes. Discover the cases we support and the pricing for each here.
Legal Aid
If you’re thinking about legal aid, it’s important to understand exactly who is eligible and what this implies. Read on for more insight, including frequently asked questions to help you find the right support.
Do we offer legal aid?
No, we don’t currently hold a legal aid franchise. This means we’re unable to act in relation to any case where you require funding with legal aid. However, read on as we find that enquiries of this nature often involve some misunderstanding of what funding involves.
Who is eligible for legal aid?
Access to legal aid is limited to specific cases, and is determined by reference to the applicant’s means (their income and/or wealth). We’re always happy to discuss eligibility criteria with you, but as it’s means-tested, we often find that our clients are ineligible for legal aid.
What types of cases are eligible for legal aid?
Usually, legal aid is for cases in the family law or public law sphere – such as those related to social services and children needing to be taken into care, as well as domestic violence. Cases of divorce or arguments over money wouldn’t receive legal aid. Civil disputes, such as an argument with a neighbour or council, could be eligible for legal aid.
The government provides further guidance on what type of cases can access legal aid here.
Do I have to pay back legal aid?
Yes. It’s a common misconception that legal aid is essentially a gift; it is in fact a loan. If you manage to get legal aid, you may have to pay some or all of the costs back.
Is legal aid a good deal for me?
Legal aid can be worth it if you’re eligible, but remember, it’s means-tested and limited to very specific cases. Plus, many have to repay it, and will need to go through the process of waiting for legal aid to be approved. It can be better to use paid-for legal services and get your case sorted quicker.
Consultation
We understand that you may wish to discuss your circumstances with us prior to instructing our services. Although we don’t offer free consultations, we offer paid consultations for various legal cases.
This covers up to one hour’s professional time to open your file, peruse any documents, research any points that require advice, and provide this via verbal or written communication.
For this service, prices start from £240 (£200 + VAT).
Get in touch if you’d like to arrange a consultation.
Employment
We’ve supported and represented a range of clients from all backgrounds in a variety of employment disputes. We offer expertise in the following areas:
- Unfair/wrongful dismissal
- Redundancy
- Settlement (compromise) agreements
- Discrimination
- Employment tribunal claims
- Paternity/maternity rights
- Employment rights
Optimal Solicitors has a proven track record in providing effective employment law advice, enabling employees to understand where they stand legally when they feel their rights may be affected.
Your case will be managed by our Solicitor, Preeti Aujayeb. Some daily tasks and administrative duties may be undertaken by experienced department assistants, such as Paralegals, who may assist on your matter but will be supervised at all times by qualified members of the team.
Employment fees and funding your case
We can advise you on the options available for funding your case – these depend on your individual circumstances. Our standard charge for this type of work is £240 per hour inclusive (£200.00+VAT). Running a case start to finish (full service) can cost between £7,200.00 and £9,600.00 (£6,000.00 and £8,000.00+VAT). In certain circumstances, we may accept your case on a no-win, no-fee basis, where we charge 25% of the damages recovered (which includes VAT). We’ll guide you through this when you first instruct us.
Alternatively, it may be possible to unbundle specific tasks on your case – for example, if you already have or want to handle your case personally. Our charges for unbundling are:
Task | Cost | VAT | Total |
Consultation | £150.00 | £30.00 | £180.00 |
Draft a letter (depending on complexity) | £300.00 to £1,000.00 | £60.00 to £200.00 | £360.00 to £1,200.00 |
Draft ET1 (depending on complexity) | £500.00 to £2,000.00 | £100.00 to £400.00 | £600.00 to £2,400.00 |
Draft schedule of loss (or updated schedule)
(depending on complexity) |
£750.00 to £3,000.00 | £150.00 to £600.00 | £900.00 to £3,600.00 |
Draft witness statement(s) per statement (depending on complexity) | £500.00 to £3,000.00 | £100.00 to £600.00 | £600.00 to £3,600.00 |
Advice related to a settlement agreement (depending on complexity) | £250.00 to £500.00 | £50.00 to £100.00 | £300.00 to £600.00 |
You may have legal expenses insurance in place (for example, with your home insurance) to cover such costs.
Additional fees – disbursements
These are costs relating to your case that we pay to third parties on your behalf. In employment claims, this is usually Counsel or Tribunal Advocates’ fees. We don’t incur these costs without your permission as you’re responsible for them. We should point out that additional costs rarely occur, but when they do, we’ll discuss them with you in advance. The fees can vary from £900.00 to £2,400.00 (£750.00 to £2,000.00+VAT) per court day or part thereof, depending on the complexity of your claim.