By Talk to a Lawyer · Published 20 September 2026 · 3 minute read
Two quotes can look very different because the offices have priced different work. One may cover a meeting and short advice; another may include reviewing records, writing to the other side and a follow-up discussion. Before choosing on price, make the proposed first stage comparable. The useful question is what you will receive, who will do it and what could change the cost.
Write one brief for both offices
Describe the issue, your role, the documents available and the next decision. Give each office the same material, subject to its conflict check and secure document instructions. If new facts emerge, update both briefs rather than comparing an old quote with a new one.
Ask for the first stage in ordinary language: a meeting, a written opinion, a revised contract or attendance at a particular event. “Handle the matter” is too broad to compare without an explanation of the stages and assumptions. Record the name or role of the person expected to do the work.
Turn the quote into a comparison table
Use columns for professional fees, GST treatment, outside expenses, included documents, meetings, revisions and follow-up. Leave unknowns as questions rather than recording them as zero. An estimate and a fixed fee are different commitments; ask the office to explain which is being offered and any conditions.
Put exclusions beside the headline price. A quote that excludes searches, expert reports or substantial negotiations may be appropriate, but you need to understand how those items will be authorised. Ask how unused money held for future work is handled and when accounts are issued.
Ask what triggers a change
Describe a realistic complication: the other party sends a revised agreement, an extra hearing is listed or more records must be reviewed. Ask which changes fall inside the quoted scope and when you would receive a revised estimate.
Agree a point at which the adviser stops and seeks instructions before proceeding to a new stage. The aim is a useful decision checkpoint, not a promise that every uncertainty can be priced in advance. Keep the written scope with the version of the documents it covers.
Choose on the whole arrangement
Price is one factor alongside relevant work, the person handling the matter, availability and communication. A detailed quote does not by itself prove suitability. Confirm the office can act for your side and meet the relevant timetable before engaging.
When you accept, ask for the engagement documents and check they match the scope you discussed. If an exclusion remains unclear, resolve it before assuming the task has been accepted. Keep a dated record of what you authorised and the next agreed update.
Keep this checklist beside you
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A preparation aid, not confirmation that a legal requirement is complete.
Common questions
Does a fixed fee cover everything?
Only the work within its agreed scope and conditions. Ask about revisions, outside expenses and circumstances that trigger extra work. Do not read “fixed” as a guarantee covering every later stage.
Should I choose the lowest quote?
Compare the same service first, then consider experience, availability and communication. A low quote with major unknowns is difficult to evaluate; a higher quote is not proof of better legal ability.
Sources and scope
General appointment preparation, not advice about your individual circumstances. Examples are illustrative, not client case studies. Sources provide further reading; confirm current requirements with the relevant service or adviser.
- Legal Aid NSW: dealing with your lawyer
NSW legal-profession complaints and service issues; other professions have different regulators and rules.
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